Legal Services Corporation Act of 1974
Public Law 93-355 · H.R. 7824 · 93rd Congress · began in the House
Signed by Richard Nixon (R) on Jul 25, 1974 · Law
Sponsor: Rep. Albert Quie (R-MN-1)
Cosponsors (9): Rep. Carl Perkins, Rep. William Steiger,
Passage votesYeaNay
- HouseRecorded vote: 265 yea, 136 nay265–136
- SenateRecorded vote: 77 yea, 19 nay77–19
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Legal Services Corporation Act - Establishes in the District of Columbia a private nonmembership nonprofit corporation to be known as the "Legal Services Corporation," for the purpose of providing financial support for legal assistance in noncriminal matters to persons financially unable to afford legal assistance.
States that the corporation shall have a board of directors consisting of eleven voting members appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, no more than six of whom shall be of the same political party.
Provides that within six months following the first meeting of the Board, the Board shall request the Governor of each State to appoint a nine-member advisory council for his State.
Sets forth the corporation's powers, duties and limitations.
Authorizes the corporation to make grants to, and to contract with, individuals, partnerships, firms, organizations, corporations, and State and local governments for the purpose of providing legal assistance to eligible clients.
States that no funds made available by the corporation under this Act, either by grant or contract, may be used: (1) to provide legal assistance under this Act with respect to a criminal proceeding; (2) for any political activities; (3) to make grants to or contracts with, any public interest law firm which expends 50 percent or more of its resources and time litigating issues in the broad interests of a majority of the public; (4) to provide legal assistance to any unemancipated person of less than eighteen years of age, except in enumerated instances; (5) to support or conduct training programs for the purpose of advocating, as distinguished from the dissemination of information about, particular public policies or encouraging political activities, labor or antilabor activities, illegal boycotts, picketing, strikes, or demonstrations; or (6) to organize or to encourage to organize the creation or structuring of any organization except for the provision of legal assistance in accordance with guidelines promulgated by the Corporations; (7) to provide legal assistance with respect to any proceeding or litigation relating to the desegregation of any elementary or secondary school or school system; (8) to provide legal assistance with respect to any proceeding or litigation which seeks to procure a nontherapentic abortion or to compel any individual or institution to perform an abortion; or (9) to provide legal assistance with respect to any proceeding or litigation arising out of a violation of the Military Selective Service Act or of desertion from the Armed Forces of the United States.
Authorizes the corporation to require such reports as it deems necessary from recipients of grants or contracts. States that the accounts of the corporation shall be audited annually.
Authorizes to be appropriated for the purpose of carrying out the activities of the Corporation, $90,000,000 for the fiscal year 1975, $100,000,000 for the fiscal year 1976, and such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 1977.
Who voted for it
Every House member of the 93rd Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 270 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.
270 yea142 nay22 present or did not vote
Democrats who voted yea(182)
Rep. John ConyersD-MI-1- Rep. Ronald DellumsD-CA-7
Rep. Pete StarkD-CA-8- Rep. Don EdwardsD-CA-9
- Rep. John MossD-CA-3
- Rep. Elizabeth HoltzmanD-NY-16
- Rep. Bella AbzugD-NY-20
- Rep. Edward RoybalD-CA-30
- Rep. Phillip BurtonD-CA-5
- Rep. Herman BadilloD-NY-21
- Rep. Louis StokesD-OH-21
- Rep. Robert EckhardtD-TX-8
- Rep. Robert KastenmeierD-WI-2
- Rep. Parren MitchellD-MD-7
- Rep. John BurtonD-CA-6
- Rep. Gus HawkinsD-CA-21
Rep. Charlie RangelD-NY-19- Rep. Shirley ChisholmD-NY-12
- Rep. Jerome WaldieD-CA-14
- Rep. Andrew YoungD-GA-5
Rep. John DingellD-MI-16- Rep. Henry GonzálezD-TX-20
- Rep. William FordD-MI-15
- Rep. Benjamin RosenthalD-NY-8
- Rep. Michael HarringtonD-MA-6
- Rep. Leo RyanD-CA-11
- Rep. Yvonne BurkeD-CA-37
- Rep. Glenn AndersonD-CA-35
- Rep. Patsy MinkD-HI-2
- Rep. Barbara JordanD-TX-18
- Rep. George BrownD-CA-38
- Rep. Cardiss CollinsD-IL-7
- Rep. Frank ThompsonD-NJ-4
- Rep. Robert NixD-PA-2
- Rep. Floyd HicksD-WA-6
- Rep. Charles DiggsD-MI-13
- Rep. Charles WilsonD-CA-31
- Rep. James O’HaraD-MI-12
- Rep. Charles CarneyD-OH-19
- Rep. Lucien NedziD-MI-14
- Rep. John SeiberlingD-OH-14
- Rep. Bertram PodellD-NY-13
- Rep. William BarrettD-PA-1
- Rep. John DentD-PA-21
- Rep. Henry HelstoskiD-NJ-9
- Rep. Lloyd MeedsD-WA-2
- Rep. John BrademasD-IN-3
- Rep. James CormanD-CA-22
- Rep. Teno RoncalioD-WY
- Rep. George DanielsonD-CA-29
- Rep. Donald FraserD-MN-5
- Rep. Robert LeggettD-CA-4
- Rep. Jonathan BinghamD-NY-22
- Rep. Richard Vander VeenD-MI-5
- Rep. Robert DrinanD-MA-4
- Rep. William LehmanD-FL-13
- Rep. Dante FascellD-FL-15
- Rep. Robert TiernanD-RI-2
- Rep. Tip O’NeillD-MA-8
- Rep. Brock AdamsD-WA-7
- Rep. Joshua EilbergD-PA-4
- Rep. Henry ReussD-WI-5
- Rep. Paul SarbanesD-MD-3
- Rep. Edward KochD-NY-18
- Rep. Spark MatsunagaD-HI-1
- Rep. James HowardD-NJ-3
- Rep. Joseph AddabboD-NY-7
Rep. Dave ObeyD-WI-7- Rep. Thomas ReesD-CA-26
- Rep. Chester HolifieldD-CA-19
- Rep. William BurlisonD-MO-10
- Rep. Clarence LongD-MD-2
- Rep. Gerry StuddsD-MA-12
- Rep. Jerome TraxlerD-MI-8
- Rep. Frank DenholmD-SD-1
- Rep. Kenneth GrayD-IL-24
- Rep. John MelcherD-MT-2
- Rep. John BlatnikD-MN-8
- Rep. William GreenD-PA-3
- Rep. Thomas LukenD-OH-1
- Rep. Frank BrascoD-NY-11
- Rep. Jack BrooksD-TX-9
- Rep. Leslie AspinD-WI-1
- Rep. Mike McCormackD-WA-4
- Rep. Sidney YatesD-IL-9
- Rep. Douglas OwensD-UT-2
- Rep. Harold JohnsonD-CA-2
- Rep. William HungateD-MO-9
- Rep. Ogden ReidD-NY-24
- Rep. Ray MaddenD-IN-1
- Rep. James WrightD-TX-12
- Rep. John McFallD-CA-15
- Rep. Peter RodinoD-NJ-10
- Rep. Claude PepperD-FL-14
- Rep. Fernand St. GermainD-RI-1
- Rep. Edward MezvinskyD-IA-1
- Rep. Harley StaggersD-WV-2
- Rep. Joseph EvinsD-TN-4
- Rep. Peter KyrosD-ME-1
- Rep. Charles VanikD-OH-22
- Rep. Charles WilsonD-TX-2
- Rep. John MurphyD-NY-17
- Rep. Leonor SullivanD-MO-3
- Rep. Robert BerglandD-MN-7
- Rep. Joseph GaydosD-PA-20
- Rep. Thomas FoleyD-WA-5
- Rep. Charles PriceD-IL-23
- Rep. Morris UdallD-AZ-2
- Rep. Bernice SiskD-CA-16
- Rep. Joseph KarthD-MN-4
- Rep. John KluczynskiD-IL-5
- Rep. Thomas MorganD-PA-22
- Rep. Hugh CareyD-NY-15
- Rep. Gillis LongD-LA-8
- Rep. William MoorheadD-PA-14
- Rep. Kenneth HechlerD-WV-4
- Rep. Richard BollingD-MO-5
- Rep. Morgan MurphyD-IL-2
- Rep. Harold DonohueD-MA-3
- Rep. Dominick DanielsD-NJ-14
- Rep. Lionel Van DeerlinD-CA-41
- Rep. Abraham KazenD-TX-23
- Rep. Joseph VigoritoD-PA-24
- Rep. Lindy BoggsD-LA-2
- Rep. Robert MollohanD-WV-1
- Rep. Frederick RooneyD-PA-15
- Rep. Robert JonesD-AL-5
- Rep. Daniel FloodD-PA-11
- Rep. Carl PerkinsD-KY-7
- Rep. Edward PattenD-NJ-15
- Rep. Gus YatronD-PA-6
- Rep. Robert RoeD-NJ-8
- Rep. Frank EvansD-CO-3
- Rep. Neal SmithD-IA-4
- Rep. John YoungD-TX-14
- Rep. Clement ZablockiD-WI-4
- Rep. Daniel RostenkowskiD-IL-8
- Rep. Frank ClarkD-PA-25
- Rep. William CotterD-CT-1
- Rep. Lester WolffD-NY-6
- Rep. John SlackD-WV-3
- Rep. Joseph MinishD-NJ-11
- Rep. Robert GiaimoD-CT-3
- Rep. William NatcherD-KY-2
- Rep. Thomas AshleyD-OH-9
- Rep. Ella GrassoD-CT-6
- Rep. Kika de la GarzaD-TX-15
- Rep. Wilbur MillsD-AR-2
- Rep. John CulverD-IA-2
- Rep. Jake PickleD-TX-10
Rep. John MurthaD-PA-12- Rep. James HanleyD-NY-32
- Rep. James DelaneyD-NY-9
- Rep. Jerry LittonD-MO-6
- Rep. Ray ThorntonD-AR-4
- Rep. Charles RoseD-NC-7
- Rep. Edward BolandD-MA-2
- Rep. John BreauxD-LA-7
- Rep. George ShipleyD-IL-22
- Rep. John RoushD-IN-4
- Rep. Sam GibbonsD-FL-7
- Rep. Albert UllmanD-OR-2
- Rep. Richard WhiteD-TX-16
- Rep. Bo GinnD-GA-1
- Rep. John BreckinridgeD-KY-6
- Rep. Mendel DavisD-SC-1
- Rep. Ed JonesD-TN-7
- Rep. Williamson StuckeyD-GA-8
- Rep. William RoyD-KS-2
- Rep. Otis PikeD-NY-1
- Rep. Thaddeus DulskiD-NY-37
- Rep. Robert StephensD-GA-10
- Rep. Lee HamiltonD-IN-9
- Rep. James StantonD-OH-20
- Rep. Romano MazzoliD-KY-3
- Rep. Walter FlowersD-AL-7
- Rep. James JonesD-OK-1
- Rep. Samuel StrattonD-NY-28
- Rep. Harold RunnelsD-NM-2
- Rep. Charles BennettD-FL-3
- Rep. Thomas DowningD-VA-1
- Rep. James MannD-SC-4
Republicans who voted yea(87)
- Rep. Donald RiegleR-MI-7
- Rep. Charles WhalenR-OH-3
- Rep. Margaret HecklerR-MA-10
- Rep. Gilbert GudeR-MD-8
- Rep. Matthew RinaldoR-NJ-12
- Rep. Edward BiesterR-PA-8
- Rep. Mark AndrewsR-ND
- Rep. Joseph McDadeR-PA-10
- Rep. Silvio ConteR-MA-1
- Rep. Pete McCloskeyR-CA-17
- Rep. Frank HortonR-NY-34
- Rep. Ronald SarasinR-CT-5
- Rep. Stewart McKinneyR-CT-4
- Rep. Benjamin GilmanR-NY-26
- Rep. Charles MosherR-OH-13
- Rep. William WidnallR-NJ-7
- Rep. William CohenR-ME-2
- Rep. William WalshR-NY-33
- Rep. Wendell WyattR-OR-1
- Rep. Bob MathiasR-CA-18
- Rep. Tim CarterR-KY-5
- Rep. Thomas RailsbackR-IL-19
- Rep. Marvin EschR-MI-2
- Rep. Charles SandmanR-NJ-2
- Rep. Hamilton FishR-NY-25
- Rep. Donald MitchellR-NY-31
- Rep. Henry HeinzR-PA-18
- Rep. Joel PritchardR-WA-1
- Rep. Robert CoughlinR-PA-13
- Rep. Donald BrotzmanR-CO-2
- Rep. Elwood HillisR-IN-5
- Rep. Charles ThoneR-NE-1
- Rep. Pierre du PontR-DE
- Rep. Joseph MarazitiR-NJ-13
Rep. Don YoungR-AK- Rep. William WamplerR-VA-9
- Rep. Garner ShriverR-KS-4
- Rep. John AndersonR-IL-16
- Rep. Tennyson GuyerR-OH-4
- Rep. Lawrence WilliamsR-PA-7
- Rep. Orval HansenR-ID-2
- Rep. Edward MadiganR-IL-21
- Rep. Jerry PettisR-CA-33
- Rep. Vernon ThomsonR-WI-3
- Rep. Guy Vander JagtR-MI-9
- Rep. John ZwachR-MN-6
- Rep. Joe SkubitzR-KS-5
- Rep. Albert QuieR-MN-1
- Rep. James ClevelandR-NH-2
- Rep. Larry WinnR-KS-3
- Rep. James HastingsR-NY-39
- Rep. Bob WilsonR-CA-40
- Rep. Manuel LujánR-NM-1
- Rep. Alan SteelmanR-TX-5
- Rep. Edwin EshlemanR-PA-16
- Rep. Philip RuppeR-MI-11
Rep. Ralph RegulaR-OH-16- Rep. Dan KuykendallR-TN-8
- Rep. Samuel YoungR-IL-10
- Rep. David TowellR-NV
- Rep. Edwin ForsytheR-NJ-6
- Rep. Vinegar Bend MizellR-NC-5
- Rep. William BroomfieldR-MI-19
- Rep. Paul FindleyR-IL-20
- Rep. Elford CederbergR-MI-10
- Rep. Louis WymanR-NH-1
- Rep. Robert BaumanR-MD-1
- Rep. George O’BrienR-IL-17
- Rep. John DellenbackR-OR-4
- Rep. Clarence BrownR-OH-7
- Rep. Henry SmithR-NY-36
- Rep. Richard MallaryR-VT
- Rep. William FrenzelR-MN-3
- Rep. Robert McCloryR-IL-13
- Rep. Clair BurgenerR-CA-42
- Rep. Garry BrownR-MI-3
- Rep. Wiley MayneR-IA-6
- Rep. Ancher NelsenR-MN-2
- Rep. John ErlenbornR-IL-14
- Rep. John WareR-PA-5
- Rep. William SteigerR-WI-6
- Rep. Peter FrelinghuysenR-NJ-5
- Rep. Chalmers WylieR-OH-15
- Rep. Harold CollierR-IL-6
- Rep. Robert LagomarsinoR-CA-13
- Rep. Barber ConableR-NY-35
- Rep. Charles WigginsR-CA-25
Data notes
The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 812 in Voteview), matched to the vote the record cites and checked against its totals. Positions are each member’s DW-NOMINATE score for that Congress, as on the Ideology page; left to right is more liberal to more conservative. Paired and announced yea votes count as yea. Lists follow the compass, most liberal first. 1 yea vote was cast by members of neither major party and is highlighted on the compass but not listed. A name links to a profile only for members of the current Congress. A law passed by voice vote or unanimous consent has no member list, and neither does a vote Voteview has not yet recorded.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 33 actions.
- Jul 25, 1974Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public law 93-355.
- Jul 22, 1974PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- Jul 18, 1974Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to House amendment, roll call #316 (77-19).Senate roll call 316
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Motion to concur in House amendment with an amendment rejected in Senate, roll call #315 (34-61).Senate roll call 315
- OtherOther · Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate agreed to House amendment, roll call #316 (77-19).Senate roll call 316
- OtherOther · Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Motion to concur in House amendment with an amendment rejected in Senate, roll call #315 (34-61).Senate roll call 315
- Jul 17, 1974FloorFloor · Motion to close debate on the pending motion to agree to the House amendment, vacated in Senate.
- FloorFloor · Cloture motion to agree to the House amendment, vacated in Senate.
- Jul 16, 1974Resolving differencesResolving differences · House receded from its disagreement to the Senate amendment with an amendment, roll call #385 (265-136).House roll call 385
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · House rejected its motion to table the previous motion, roll call #384 (136-269).House roll call 384
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Motion entered in Senate to agree to House amendment.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to motion to further insist on its amendments, roll call #303 (75-18).Senate roll call 303
- FloorFloor · Cloture motion filed on motion to agree to House amendments (Second).
- OtherOther · Resolving differences -- House actions: House receded from its disagreement to the Senate amendment with an amendment, roll call #385 (265-136).House roll call 385
- OtherOther · Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate agreed to motion to further insist on its amendments, roll call #303 (75-18).Senate roll call 303
- Jul 10, 1974Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report tabled in Senate.
- May 16, 1974Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to conference report, roll call #228 (227-143).House roll call 228
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in House: House agreed to conference report, roll call #228 (227-143).House roll call 228
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Motion to recommit the bill to the Committee of Conference was rejected in House, roll call #227 (183-190).House roll call 227
- May 13, 1974Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed in Senate, S. Rept. 93-845.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report filed in Senate, S. Rept. 93-845.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 93-1039.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 93-1039.
- Apr 2, 1974Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in House.
- Mar 5, 1974Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in Senate.
- Feb 28, 1974Resolving differencesResolving differences · House disagreed to Senate amendments.
- Jan 31, 1974FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended, in lieu of S. 2686, roll call #30 (69-17).Senate roll call 30
- Jun 21, 1973FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, roll call #263 (276-95).House roll call 263
- FloorFloor · Motion to recommit failed of passage in House, division vote (91-189).
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.