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![handle is hein.gao/gaobabjcm0001 and id is 1 raw text is:
COMPTROLLER GENERAL. OF THE UNITED STATES
WASHINGTON D.C. 20548
B-202569 April 27, 1981
/
The Honorable Gordon J. Humphrey
United States Senator
Dear Senator Humphrey:
Recently you forwarded us a letter from Mr. Benjamin C.
Adams, Commissione, Department of Employment Security, State of
New Hampshire,. requested that we look into allegationsy
Mr. Adams 6thatLNew Hampshire Legal Assistance wengagea ±-i
lobbying t State legis]-ure7 and that some of its employees
were registered lobbyists.
We have reviewed this matter and have determined thatew
Hampshire Legal Assistance is a Federal fund recipient of the
Legal Services Corporation (LSC) and provides legal assistance
to eligible clients under the Federal Legal Assistance Program.)
Under the provisions of 42 U.S.C. § 2996 f(a) (5) (A),providers of
legal assistancelsuch as the New Hampshire Legal Assistance~may
use Federal funds for legislative representation before State
legislatures where such.representation is necessary with respect
to a client's Jegal rights and responsibilities.D However, as we
interpret it, he statute requires that providers of legal ser-
vices must have an eligible client whose interests are directly
affected by the pending legislation as a prerequisite toengaging
in legislative representation before legislative bodies.) Another
provision of the above-cited statuteCallows providers of legal
services to engage in legislative representation before legisla-
tive bodies concerning matters affecting the LSC or the recipient.
Since there is statutory authority for legal services providers5 J
such as the New Hampshire Legal Assistanceto engage in lobbying
activities under such circumstances, there is nothing improper
about having certain of its employees registered as lobbyists with
legislative bodies,
On the other hand,CJiobbying by legal services providers that
is neither on behalf of an eligible client nor on a matter directly
affecting the LSC or the recipient is prohibited by the above-
cited statute and by appropriation restrictionsD Mr. Adams did
not describe the kind of legislative representation in which the
New Hampshire Legal Assistance was engaged. Apparently, he
assumed that any legislative representation by that group is
prohibited by Federal Law, which is contrary to fact.](ViewImageLocal?handle=hein.gao/gaobabjcm0001&div=1&collection=&method=preview&ext=.png&size=3)