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BALTIMORE, MD – Attorney General Anthony G. Brown today joined a bipartisan coalition of 40 attorneys general in urging congressional leaders to continue funding the Legal Services Corporation (LSC), the nation’s largest funder of civil legal aid for low-income Americans.
In a letter to congressional appropriations leaders, the coalition asked Congress to include continued funding for the LSC in the fiscal year 2027 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. The coalition emphasized that LSC plays a critical role in ensuring access to justice for people who cannot afford legal representation in civil matters and remains a wise investment of federal resources.
Created by Congress in 1974, LSC supports a nationwide network of 129 independent legal aid organizations operating more than 900 offices in every state, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. Nearly 95% of LSC’s federal funding is distributed directly to local legal aid providers that help millions of Americans each year address critical civil legal issues involving housing, family safety, consumer protection, veterans’ benefits, and disaster recovery.
In their letter, the attorneys general highlighted the vital role LSC-funded programs play in expanding access to justice in rural communities where attorney shortages can leave residents facing significant civil legal challenges without legal assistance. The coalition also noted that studies show every dollar invested in civil legal aid generates an average of seven dollars in societal benefits, making LSC an effective and efficient use of taxpayer resources.
Joining Attorney General Brown in sending the letter are the attorneys general of Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaiʻi, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, the Northern Mariana Islands, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
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