Recognizing the right to counsel in civil proceedings.

the lack of counsel for low-income individuals in civil proceedings diminishes the justice system in the United States;

to effectively and efficiently address the national crisis described in paragraph (1), there must be a right to counsel in the civil justice system for cases involving basic human needs, including health, safety, family, shelter, or sustenance; and

the Federal Government shares the burden with, and should support, State and local efforts to guarantee the right to counsel in the civil justice system and reduce the justice gap by providing counsel in appropriate civil proceedings without cost for low-income individuals.