HARRISBURG, PA — Attorney General Dave Sunday and 39 other Attorneys General have called on Congress to sustain funding for the Legal Services Corporation (LSC), emphasizing its vital role in providing civil legal assistance to vulnerable communities across the country.
LSC bolsters access to legal aid for veterans seeking benefits, domestic violence survivors seeking safety, and older adults facing scams or financial exploitation. Its services are especially critical in rural regions, such as Pennsylvania’s Sullivan, Potter, Forest, and Tioga counties, where attorney shortages are prevalent. Currently, 77 legal aid offices in Pennsylvania receive LSC funding.
“Everyone should have access to legal representation to maintain safe and stable housing, rightful benefits that keep them healthy, and protection against violence and scams,” said Attorney General Sunday. “As a co-leader of this letter, I commend my colleagues who are adamantly telling Congress that the Legal Services Corporation must keep necessary funding to provide these basic rights to underserved communities.”
The letter, addressed to Congressional leaders on key appropriations committees, underscores LSC’s efficiency in resource allocation, noting that 95 percent of its funding goes directly to legal aid organizations. Operating in every state, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories, LSC supports 130 independent legal aid offices through a network of over 900 locations.
The bipartisan appeal highlights a longstanding commitment by Attorneys General to safeguard federal funding for LSC. The coalition emphasizes the organization’s effectiveness in addressing legal needs in underserved populations, particularly as potential budget cuts loom.
Joining Attorney General Sunday were representatives from 39 jurisdictions, including California, New York, Michigan, and Washington, signaling a united front in advocating for continued investment in this essential program.
This collective effort reinforces the critical need for maintaining resources that ensure all Americans, regardless of location or income level, have access to justice and legal protections.
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