Attorney General Anthony G. Brown, along with a bipartisan group of 39 other attorneys general, is calling on Congress to maintain funding for the Legal Services Corporation (LSC), which provides civil legal aid to low-income Americans.
In a letter addressed to leaders of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees and relevant subcommittees, the attorneys general urged continued support for LSC’s mission of delivering legal assistance to veterans, rural residents, domestic violence survivors, older adults affected by fraud, and others unable to afford representation in civil matters.
LSC supports a network of 130 legal aid organizations operating from more than 900 offices across all U.S. states and territories. It provides legal support in areas such as veterans’ benefits, natural disaster recovery, and access to legal help in underserved rural areas, including the Eastern Shore, Western Maryland, and Southern Maryland.
The letter highlights that LSC allocates 95% of its federal funding directly to legal aid organizations. Maryland Legal Aid is the largest local recipient, receiving $6.5 million annually. This funding supports assistance to over 22,000 low-income Marylanders with issues such as eviction prevention, family law, and public benefits access.
The attorneys general emphasized LSC’s role in ensuring justice and economic stability for vulnerable populations and described the organization as an effective steward of taxpayer dollars. They urged Congressional leaders to prioritize LSC funding amid ongoing federal budget discussions.
Signatories include attorneys general from states and territories across the political spectrum, including Alaska, California, Florida, New York, Texas, and the District of Columbia.
