TO RECOGNIZE AND COMMEND SOUTH CAROLINA LEGAL SERVICES, INC., UPON THE ANNIVERSARY OF SERVING THE CITIZENS OF THE PALMETTO STATE FOR HALF A CENTURY, TO CELEBRATE ITS MANY VALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR STATE, AND TO CALL ON ALL OUR CITIZENS TO HONOR SOUTH CAROLINA LEGAL SERVICES, INC., FOR ITS UNSTINTING SERVICE TO OUR STATE.

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives is pleased to learn that South Carolina Legal Services, Inc., is celebrating the culmination of over fifty years of free legal assistance to the citizens of our great State on February 15, 2018; and

Whereas, the mission of South Carolina Legal Services, Inc., is to represent the interests and protect the rights of its low-income South Carolinians in civil matters. South Carolina Legal Services, Inc., works for the creation of equal justice; and

Whereas, the State of South Carolina enshrines the constitutional guarantees of due process and equal justice for all; and

Whereas, the first legal aid societies started their service to South Carolina in 1967, sponsored by the Office of Economic Opportunity and the War on Poverty; thereafter, South Carolina had regional legal aid societies in all regions of the State. In 2002, the regional programs merged to create South Carolina Legal Services, Inc. This consolidation allowed for the economy of scale, broader case acceptance, and streamlining of administration; and

Whereas, the work of South Carolina Legal Services, Inc., is essential to the maintenance of a well-ordered society whose membership is invested fully in the rights and privileges of our state and federal constitutions. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and commend South Carolina Legal Services, Inc., upon the anniversary of serving the citizens of the Palmetto State for half a century, celebrate its many valuable contributions to our State, and call on all our citizens to honor South Carolina Legal Services, Inc., for its unstinting service to our State.