Attorney General James, 41 Attorneys General Urge Congress To Fund Legal Services Corporation

Attorney General James, 41 Attorneys General Urge Congress to Fund Legal Services Corporation  

Broad, Bipartisan Letter Requests Robust Funding for LSC to Expand Access to Legal Services for Millions of Americans  

NEW YORK — Attorney General Letitia James and a bipartisan coalition of 41 Attorneys General, today urged Congress to take action to fund the Legal Services Corporation, a nonprofit legal services organization. In a letter to the U.S. House and U.S. Senate Committees on Appropriations, the coalition requested funding for the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) in the Fiscal Year 2020 Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. 

“Every American deserves access to the same system of justice,” said Attorney General Letitia James. “Legal Services has long provided critical representation to our most vulnerable communities, ensuring that the opportunity for justice is not out of reach. We must continue to fund these organizations that are the bedrock of a fair and just legal system.” 

LSC is a nonprofit legal services organization established by Congress in 1974 to promote equal access to justice for all Americans by funding independent nonprofit legal aid programs across the county. LSC provides millions of dollars in funding to legal aid organizations that serve and support low-income individuals, veterans and military families, seniors, survivors of domestic violence, victims of natural disasters, and disabled individuals.  

LSC distributes more than 90 percent of its funding to 132 independent nonprofit legal aid programs with more than 800 offices. It is headed by a bipartisan board of directors whose 11 members are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. 

Massachusetts and Montana co-sponsored today’s letter and were joined by 42 Attorneys General from Alaska, American Samoa, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Northern Mariana Islands, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.