FY 2016 Spending Bill Increases Funding for LSC by $10 Million

WASHINGTON— The $1.1 trillion omnibus spending bill passed by Congress on Friday to fund the federal government for FY 2016 allocates $385 million for the Legal Services Corporation (LSC), the nation’s single largest funder of civil legal aid for low-income Americans.

That is $10 million more than LSC received last year, and marks the second year in a row that funding has increased by that amount.

The bill passed in the House by a vote of 316-113; the Senate approved the measure 65-33.

"We are very grateful for the $10 million increase in our Congressional funding," said LSC Board Chair John G. Levi. "The bipartisan support for this measure illustrates that Congress recognizes the importance of ensuring that all Americans have equal access to justice. I want  to particularly thank Senate Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) Subcommittee Chairman Richard Shelby, R-Ala.; Appropriations Committee Chairman Thad Cochran, R-Miss.; and Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., who is ranking member on both the committee and subcommittee, as well as their House counterparts, House CJS Chairman John Culberson, R-Texas; Ranking Member Mike Honda, D-Calif.; House Appropriations Chairman Hal Rogers, R-Ky.; and Ranking Member Nita Lowey D-NY."

The vast majority of LSC’s funding is distributed in grants to 134 local nonprofit legal aid organizations with more than 800 offices across the United States.