FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: media@naag.org
Washington, D.C. – April 23, 2025—The National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) sent letters on behalf of a bipartisan coalition of 40 state and territory attorneys general expressing strong support for the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) and requesting continued funding in the Fiscal Year 2026 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. The coalition emphasizes the critical role of the LSC in ensuring that the legal system works for all Americans, particularly those who face economic barriers to adequate legal counsel.
The LSC was established by Congress in 1974 to provide legal assistance to those who cannot afford it. The organization operates through a network of 130 independent legal aid organizations, which run over 900 offices across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. Nearly 95 percent of the LSC’s federal appropriations are distributed directly to these organizations, which assist millions of Americans each year.
In letters addressed to key members of the Senate and House Appropriations Committees, the attorneys general highlighted the indispensable work of the LSC in various areas, including supporting veterans, responding to natural disasters, and preserving rural communities. The letter states:
“Congressional investment in the LSC is essential to ensure that our legal system works for all Americans, not just those who can readily afford lawyers. In each of our states, our most under-resourced and vulnerable citizens struggle to meet significant civil legal needs. The LSC has remained an effective and efficient partner in addressing these challenges through its network of 130 independent legal aid organizations, which operate over 900 offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories.”
The attorneys general also emphasized the LSC’s prudent stewardship of taxpayer dollars, noting:
“Simply stated, the LSC is at the frontline for protecting and expanding access to justice throughout America, and it has demonstrated prudent stewardship of taxpayer dollars in providing critical civil legal help to millions of our fellow Americans and their families—help they may not otherwise receive.”
The coalition urges Congress to consider funding the LSC as a sound investment in the foundational American principle of equal justice under the law.
The letters were sponsored by Attorneys General Phil Weiser (Colorado), Dave Sunday (Pennsylvania), Jeff Jackson (North Carolina), and Jonathan Skrmetti (Tennessee). Also signing were the Attorneys General of the following states and territories: Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Northern Mariana Islands, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, U.S. Virgin Islands, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
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The National Association of Attorneys General is a nonpartisan organization of the attorneys general of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. NAAG provides a forum for exchanging knowledge, experiences, and insights on legal and law enforcement issues, and fosters bipartisan collaboration among its members to address common challenges and advance the rule of law. For more information, please visit NAAG’s website.