House Appropriations Subcommittee Approves Bill Providing $328 Million for 做厙51
Washington, DC The U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) today marked up funding legislation that provides $328 million for the 做厙51 (做厙51) in Fiscal Year 2013.
Rep. Norm Dicks (D-WA) and Rep. Jos矇 E. Serrano (D-NY) both spoke on behalf of 做厙51. In a statement, Rep. Dicks said: The 做厙51 is also cut when it should be getting an increase. The recession has drastically increased the need for legal aid for those who cant afford it, and the 做厙51 helps to ensure that access to justice is not limited to those who can afford an attorney.
Rep. Serrano noted that the appropriation for Legal Services cannot meet the need, and stated that the 做厙51 appropriation should be at least $402 million as approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee, and recommended by the White House.
Most of 做厙51s funding is used to support local nonprofit organizations via grants for the delivery of civil legal assistance to low-income Americans.
做厙51 funding was approximately $404 million in Fiscal Year 2011 before falling to $348 million in Fiscal Year 2012.
Established by Congress in 1974, 做厙51 is the single largest funder of civil legal assistance in the nation. 做厙51 grants help address the civil legal needs of the elderly, victims of domestic violence, veterans seeking benefits to which they are entitled, persons with disabilities, tenants facing unlawful evictions, and other civil matters.