U.S. Reps. Susan Brooks (R-IN) and Fred Upton (R-MI), co-chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Access to Civil Legal Services Caucus, this week objected to President Donald Trump’s plan to cease civil legal aid for low-income Americans.
Reps. Brooks and Upton, along with fellow Democratic caucus co-chairs U.S. Reps. Joe Kennedy III (D-MA) and Debbie Dingell (D-MI), called it disappointing that the president planned to defund the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) as part of his recently released fiscal year 2019 budget request. This is the second consecutive year President Trump has sought to end federal funding for LSC, the nation’s largest single funder of civil legal assistance targeted to poor citizens across the United States, the lawmakers said.
“We’ll continue to work on a bipartisan basis to ensure this critical service is properly funded,” said Upton, referring to LSC’s work to provide low-income Americans with access to legal aid for noncriminal matters, including informed advocates experienced in evictions, custodial issues, wills and estate planning, disability, employment and domestic violence, among myriad issues.
The private non-membership, nonprofit LSC, created in 1974 under the Legal Services Corporation Act signed by President Richard M. Nixon, was authorized to issue grants in order to fund high-quality legal services to individuals financially unable to afford civil legal assistance, according to LSC.
Every year since its inception, said Rep. Upton, “LSC helps more than a million Americans, from veterans to domestic violence victims, receive a fair shot in the civil legal system.”
In fact, in Upton’s home state, legal aid programs receive almost half of their funding from LSC and “would be crippled in delivering vital services to thousands of Michigan families and individuals” if the program ended, he said.
Rep. Dingell said LSC also ensures access to legal representation for military families, homeowners, senior citizens and people with disabilities. “Investment in civil legal aid is one of the most effective ways to help Americans navigate the justice system and safeguard their basic legal rights,” she said.
During the current appropriations process, lawmakers should “remain focused on providing for the security of our citizens and their families,” Rep. Brooks said, “and I am disappointed the President did not include funding for this operation that can be life-changing for Americans across the country.” Brooks said she would continue working in Congress to protect and defend the rights of Americans to due process and their access to legal counsel despite their financial resources.
“Eliminating LSC would only enlarge the already vast justice gap that exists for low-income Americans fighting to keep a roof over their heads and their family safe and secure,” said Rep. Kennedy.