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“HONORING THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LEGAL SERVICES OF NORTHWEST NEW JERSEY” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Justice was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E1338 on Sept. 18, 2013.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
HONORING THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LEGAL SERVICES OF NORTHWEST NEW
JERSEY
______
HON. RODNEY P. FRELINGHUYSEN
of new jersey
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Legal Services of Northwest Jersey, serving five counties of northwest New Jersey, which is celebrating its 10th Anniversary.
As a non-profit law firm, the Legal Services of Northwest Jersey seeks to provide free legal assistance on matters affecting essential needs of low-income and other vulnerable people in our community. In the past ten years, Legal Services of New Jersey has provided services for 42,873 low-income constituents in the area. Their services seek to help individuals maintain safe and affordable housing, gain suitable incomes, access quality health care and secure family stability. The organization has attorneys and administrators working in Hunterdon, Morris, Somerset, Sussex and Warren counties.
Legal Services of Northwest Jersey is dedicated to the cause of equal justice and each year prioritizes their work and mission to serve different needs of the low-income community. Recently, the organization has focused on disaster legal assistance, access to health care and assistance for those affected by HIV/AIDS. In these areas, the organization has helped those affected by Superstorm Sandy as well as those seeking legal advice on accessing benefits of the Affordable Care Act and Medicare/Medicaid. In order to provide these services, as a public-private partnership, the Legal Services of Northwest Jersey is funded by federal, state and county governments. Most notably, the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Violence Against Women, the Merck Foundation and the County Bar Associations provide support for the organization. In addition, the organization received a $20,000 grant from the State of New Jersey in October 2012, specifically to provide legal access to those constituents affected by HIV/AIDS.
To highlight one of their own, William F. Matrician, Esq., a veteran, has served as an attorney with the Legal Aid Society of Morris County since 1971. He was instrumental in helping the organization grow into the well-recognized and respected non-profit law firm that it is today. His colleague, Joel A. Murphy, Esq., describes Bill as ``a great attorney with a very big heart''. Bill's character and dedicated service to those less-fortunate in his community is indicative of all those who devote their work and time to the Legal Services of Northwest Jersey's mission.
In recent news, the Legal Services of Northwest Jersey has made available its MENTOR (Meeting Education Needs Through Representation) program to low-income constituents. The Daily Record, highlighted and explained the mission of the program that seeks to meet the education needs of its client families through representation over a broad range of educational areas, including special education, school attendance and registration, homelessness, educational access and school disciplinary proceedings. Through the MENTOR and similar programs, the Legal Services of Northwest Jersey provides constituents with help in obtaining their basic rights as citizens, in this case, access to a quality education.
Recently, the Legal Services of Northwest Jersey has struggled to provide the civil legal services needed by their constituents due to fewer resources. Despite such obstacles, the organization has continued to provide the most comprehensive and helpful legal advice it can to low-income constituents of northwest New Jersey.
Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Legal Services of Northwest Jersey as they celebrate their 10th Anniversary.
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