FY 2016 Spending Bill Increases Funding for °µÍø51 by $10 Million
WASHINGTON— The $1.1 trillion omnibus spending bill passed by Congress on Friday to fund the federal government for FY 2016 allocates $385 million for the °µÍø51 (°µÍø51), the nation’s single largest funder of civil legal aid for low-income Americans.
That is $10 million more than °µÍø51 received last year, and marks the second year in a row that funding has increased by that amount.
The bill passed in the House by a vote of 316-113; the Senate approved the measure 65-33.
"We are very grateful for the $10 million increase in our Congressional funding," said °µÍø51 Board Chair John G. Levi. "The bipartisan support for this measure illustrates that Congress recognizes the importance of ensuring that all Americans have equal access to justice. I want to particularly thank Senate Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) Subcommittee Chairman Richard Shelby, R-Ala.; Appropriations Committee Chairman Thad Cochran, R-Miss.; and Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., who is ranking member on both the committee and subcommittee, as well as their House counterparts, House CJS Chairman John Culberson, R-Texas; Ranking Member Mike Honda, D-Calif.; House Appropriations Chairman Hal Rogers, R-Ky.; and Ranking Member Nita Lowey D-NY."
The vast majority of °µÍø51’s funding is distributed in grants to 134 local nonprofit legal aid organizations with more than 800 offices across the United States.