Cohen, Fitzpatrick Vow Bipartisan Opposition to Elimination of Funding for Legal Services Corporation

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) and Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-08) today objected to the proposed elimination of funding for the Legal Service Corporation (LSC) in the Administration's Fiscal Year 2019 budget and vowed to fight for finding.

Last year, Congressmen Cohen and Fitzpatrick led a bipartisan letter signed by 148 members to the House Appropriations Committee requesting continued funding for the LSC in Fiscal Year 2018. View a copy of the letter in support of LSC funding here.

"Legal Services Corporation helps ensure equal justice under the law. The Trump Administration's effort to deny low-income citizens civil justice is truly un-American. The LSC helps military families, homeowners and renters, families with children, farmers, the disabled, the elderly and many others across the country. More than 60 million Americans are eligible for LSC assistance," said Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN). "Our justice system is the envy of the world, but we know it takes professional legal aid to navigate it. If you are low-income and cannot afford legal representation, you are not going to be able to successfully work against a private attorney on the other side. Trump is furthering his war on low-income Americans to the advantage of the rich and powerful. LSC funding is also essential for the orderly administration of justice. Large numbers of unrepresented citizens overwhelms state courts and has negative consequences on the effective and efficient operation of the courts. Congress must not eliminate funding for LSC."

"While there is no doubt that Washington needs to regain control of federal spending and cut wasteful expenditures, the Legal Services Corporation is no place to start," said Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA). "The civil legal aid programs provided by Legal Services Corporation are an essential investment that not only reduces government spending but also works for countless Americans across the country – including in Pennsylvania. We should seek to balance the budget, but not by curtailing access to justice and civil legal aid. Funding to LSC should not be eliminated."