Legal Aid Bill Pushed By Esch

WASHINGTON - Congressman Marvin L. Esch, RMichigan, has joined w i t h William Steiger, R-Wisconsin, in introducing legislation creating an independent, nonprofit Legal Services Corporation with simüar functions as the Legal Services program npw being run by the Office of Equal Opportunity. The bilí would establish a Client Advisory Council, a Project Attorney's Council, and a Board' of Directors, designed to provide legal aid to those unable to a f f o r d it through offices established throughout the country. In a second move, Esch has joined with a number of his colleagues on the House Education and Labor Committee in introducing a "Legal Services" preserva tion bilí. The bilí is designed to ensure that legal services continúes in its present form at least until the end of 1973 in the event no new legal services Corporation is enacted if OEO is dismantled. ' "This bill would provide Congress ampie time to consider a legal aid bill should OEO expire," Esch said, "and at the same time ensure that legal services will continue at least at the level of last December." Esch's legislation provides that should OEO termínate, that GSA would assume administrative responsibility. "The facts are clear that Legal Services has proven to be one of our nation's best efforts on behalf of the poor. We cannot let it be discontinued, either by administrative action or congressional delay," Esch said. Although the administration has indicated it will present a legal Corporation bül within the next two weeks, Esch reiterated his feeling that, "regardless, I believe it is imperative that those of us in Congress act affirmatively and quickly by pushing legislation of our own."