Bipartisan Coalition of AGs Supports Legal Services Corporation’s Critical Work for Veterans, Seniors, Rural Residents and Others Across the Nation
Chicago – Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a bipartisan coalition of 40 attorneys general, is urging Congress to keep in place critical funding for the Legal Services Corporation (LSC).
In a letter to the chairs and ranking members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees and the House and Senate Subcommittees on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, Raoul and the attorneys general call on Congress to continue the LSC’s critical mission of providing legal assistance to people in rural communities, veterans and military families, domestic violence survivors, older adults victimized by scams and fraud, and any others who might struggle to afford an attorney in civil legal matters.
“The impact of the LSC’s work is vital, and it delivers much-needed results to millions of individuals and families who otherwise would not have access to legal representation,” Raoul said. “I join my fellow attorneys general in our bipartisan commitment to equal access to justice, and I urge Congress to prioritize investment in the LSC.”
The LSC operates a network of 130 independent legal aid organizations in over 900 offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories. The LSC assists millions of Americans in every congressional district with legal needs such as securing veterans’ benefits, support with natural disasters, and providing access to legal services for people in rural areas where a shortage of lawyers often compounds existing legal issues.
Attorneys general have a long history of supporting federal funding for the LSC. With Congress debating potential budget cuts, the bipartisan group of attorneys general is urging leaders from both parties to prioritize funding for the LSC, calling the organization a good steward of taxpayer dollars. The letter also notes that the corporation distributes 95% of its funding directly to the legal aid organizations providing services to Americans.
Joining Attorney General Raoul in signing the letter are the attorneys general of Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Northern Mariana Islands, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, U.S. Virgin Islands, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
