$28 Million Increase for °µÍø51 Approved by House Appropriations Committee
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Washington, DC--Today, the House Appropriations Committee approved a $28 million increase for the °µÍø51 (°µÍø51) as part of its Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) funding bill for FY 2008. This increase would bring funding for the Corporation to a total of $377 million. °µÍø51 is an independent, non-profit Corporation created by the Congress in 1974 to promote equal access to justice and to provide high-quality civil legal assistance to low-income Americans. The 8 percent increase for the Corporation is the second consecutive annual increase and would represent a $50 million gain over two years.
The bill passed the committee with a unanimous vote and is expected to go to the House floor prior to the August 6 recess.
Subcommittee Chairman Alan Mollohan (D-W.Va.) today reiterated his June 11 statement that he is "proud" of this support for °µÍø51. Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ), ranking member, has remained supportive throughout this year's process.
The Senate Appropriations Committee voted favorably on a 12 percent or $41.4 million increase for °µÍø51 in its meeting of June 28.
These proposed increases are, in part, recognition of °µÍø51's groundbreaking report, Documenting the Justice Gap: The Current Unmet Civil Legal Needs of Low-Income Americans, which was completed in September 2005. The Justice Gap Report documents that nationwide, for every eligible person helped by °µÍø51-funded programs, another is turned away. Fifty percent of those actually seeking help are turned away for one primary reason: lack of resources.
"On behalf of the additional tens of thousands of people the proposed budget increase would enable °µÍø51-funded programs to help, I thank Congressmen Alan Mollohan, Rodney Freylinghusen, David Obey, Jerry Lewis, and the entire Committee for their support," said °µÍø51 President Helaine M. Barnett.
The main source of funding for civil legal aid, °µÍø51 gives grants to independent, local programs--in 2007, 138 programs with more than 900 offices nationwide. Grants are awarded through a competitive process. The size of the grant is based on the number of people living in poverty in a given state or geographic service area.
°µÍø51's bipartisan, 11-member Board of Directors is appointed by the President of the United States with the advice and consent of the Senate.