Highlighting the need for legal services in rural and low-income communities across the country, Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin today joined a bipartisan group of 32 attorneys general in urging Congress to oppose the Trump Administration's proposal to eliminate federal funding for the Legal Services Corporation (LSC).
The letter, sent today to the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Committees, notes that for more than 40 years, under Republican and Democratic administrations, the LSC has helped residents across the nation to access justice.
LSC funding helps veterans and military families secure important benefits, it supports survivors of domestic violence seeking safety, and it assists families facing foreclosure and victims of natural disasters.
"Access to quality legal services, especially for those who could otherwise not afford an attorney, is a hallmark of our legal system," said Attorney General Kilmartin. "Eliminating funding for this vital service would harm families and veterans who need it most. It is a shortsighted policy by the Trump administration, and I urge Congress to oppose the elimination of this funding."
LSC funding also fosters longstanding public-private partnerships between legal aid organizations and private firms and attorneys nationwide who donate their time and skills to assist low-income residents in our states.
The letter was signed by the Attorneys General of Alaska, American Samoa, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Northern Mariana Islands, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia and Washington.