Joining forces across the aisle, Attorney General Kwame Raoul and a bipartisan group of 39 attorneys general are pushing Congress to open its wallet-wide for the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) in the FY2025 budget. The coalition is advocating for max funding for the organization that plays a crucial role in offering legal aid to low-income Americans.
In a letter, which was coordinated by the National Association of Attorneys General and sent to the big chairs of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, Raoul and his counterparts emphasized the necessity of LSC's work nationwide. They pointed out that whether in bustling cities or small towns, the LSC-funded groups are a lifeline for nearly 2 million people a year struggling to secure their civil rights. "The impact of LSC’s work is vital and delivers much-needed results to nearly 2 million individuals and families annually who otherwise would not have access to civil justice,” said Raoul in a tidbit provided by the Illinois Attorney General's Office. The attorney general also expressed a collective commitment among his peers to "equal access to justice" and pressed Congress to make LSC funding a priority.
Attorneys general from all corners of the country, including Alaska, California, New York, and even as far as Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, have thrown their support behind this cause. This bipartisan mission underscores the growing recognition of the dire need for legal aid for the less fortunate. Grants provided by LSC go directly to nonprofits that assist those living on the edge, with incomes at or below 125% of the federal poverty line who are grappling with serious legal troubles.
These aren't just any Americans. LSC programs are a shield for the most vulnerable, including veterans, struggling homeowners, domestic abuse survivors, and those in rural areas or seniors who are often left behind. In this collective push for LSC funding, Attorney General Raoul finds solidarity with the AGs of states ranging from Tennessee to Michigan and territories from American Samoa to the Northern Mariana Islands. They all understand the high stakes involved in safeguarding the health, homes, and safety of the low-income demographics they serve.
