Gale Encyclopedia of American Law Volume 4 P9 fully illuminates today's leading cases, major statutes, legal terms and concepts, notable persons involved with the law, important documents and more. Legal issues are fully discussed in easy-to-understand language, including such high-profile topics as the Americans with Disabilities Act, capital punishment, domestic violence, gay and lesbian rights, physician-assisted suicide and thousands more. | EDUCATION DEPARTMENT 69 two-year stint as director of the Center for Law and Education at Harvard University. Her husband served as vice president of the University of Massachusetts at the same time. Upon their return to Washington . in 1973 Edelman created an offshoot of her Washington Research Project which she called the Children s Defense Fund. Edelman s CDF began as a small nonprofit organization interested in children s issues and funded entirely by private foundation grants. In CDF s early days Hillary Rodham Clinton worked as a staff attorney and later became a member of the CDF board of directors. In 1999 with a staff of 130 and a budget of 10 million CDF had grown considerably in size and stature but remained committed to its original goal providing hope and social change for the poor neglected and abused children in the United States. CDF conducts research drafts legislation lobbies and provides educational support on issues affecting children. It has buttonholed elected officials on issues including childhood diseases and immunizations homelessness child abuse education and foster care. Edelman lobbied for a national CHILD CARE bill increases in Medicaid spending and of course additional spending for her cherished Head Start programs. Edelman s productivity and stamina are legendary. In addition to lobbying she gives an average of 50 speeches per year and has made frequent appearances on popular talk shows. Edelman has received more than 65 honorary degrees and awards including the Albert Schweitzer Humanitarian Prize the H. John Heinz Award and a MacArthur Foundation Prize Fellowship. In 2000 President bill clinton awarded Edelman the Presidential Medal of Freedom the nation s highest civilian award. Edelman is also a prolific writer among her books are Families in Peril An Agenda for Social Change 1987 The Measure of Our Success A Letter to My Children and Yours 1992 which sold over million copies and appeared on the best-seller list a .
