[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 18] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page 23868] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]IN TRIBUTE TO THE LEGAL AID SOCIETY OF MILWAUKEE ______ HON. GWEN MOORE of wisconsin in the house of representatives Wednesday, December 27, 2006 Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to rise today in celebration of the 90th anniversary of the Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee. Since 1916, this non-profit organization in my district has provided invaluable legal services to low-income people and other vulnerable members of society. Now serving over 8,000 people a year, the Legal Aid Society specializes in advocating for children, people living with HIV/ AIDS, the elderly, immigrants, those with mental illnesses, prisoners, and victims of domestic abuse. As a result of their work, thousands of people in my district have been protected from exploitation and discrimination, and many others have received redress when their basic human rights were violated. The Legal Aid Society has been a pioneer not only in representing vulnerable people, but also in developing mechanisms to ensure consumer relief, protection against discrimination, and equal access to legal representation. The Legal Aid Society took the lead in establishing the first small claims court in Milwaukee and together with the Milwaukee Bar Association, set up the state's first lawyer referral service. In 1957, the Legal Aid Society initiated the state's first public defender system. Widely recognized throughout the State for these innovations, the Legal Aid Society is one of the foremost organizations in Wisconsin working to make sure that the law serves everyone. Several current and former Wisconsin State Supreme Court Justices worked at the Legal Aid Society before ascending to the high court, a testament both to the quality of legal representation this organization provides and to the role it plays in ensuring that attention to consumer law and the issues that affect low-income people are considered throughout the legal system. I am very grateful to the Legal Aid Society, and its current and former employees, for their commitment to ensuring that everyone has a voice in the system. It is a privilege to thank them for their dedicated service and salute this impressive progressive record. ____________________