U.S. House Appropriations Committee Approves Bill Providing $350 Million for LSC

WASHINGTON – The U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Committee today approved funding legislation that provides $350 million for LSC in Fiscal Year 2017. LSC funding is included in the U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Relegated Agencies (CJS) bill, which was approved last week.

The designated $350 million funding for LSC in Fiscal Year 2017 represents $50 million more for LSC than was included in the House bill last year.

“I would like to thank Representative John Culberson, Chair of CJS Subcommittee, and Representative Mike Honda, the Acting Ranking Member, for recognizing the compelling necessity of sharply increasing funding for civil legal aid in the face of significant unmet civil legal needs,” said LSC Board Chair John G. Levi. “We look forward to the House passing this measure and reaching agreement with Senate in conference committee.”

Earlier this year, the Senate approved $395 million for the LSC, $10 million more than the FY2016 enacted level. Last year, Congress ultimately adopted the Senate budget number of $385 for FY2016.

Legal Services Corporation (LSC) is an independent nonprofit established by Congress in 1974. For 50 years, LSC has provided financial support for civil legal aid to low-income Americans. The Corporation currently provides funding to 131 independent nonprofit legal aid programs in every state, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories.  