A Top Republican Backs A Federal Legal Aid Agency The White House Is Trying To Defund

The Trump administration has proposed getting rid of the Legal Services Corporation, which funds legal aid for low-income Americans. The agency’s president nevertheless said he’s “optimistic” about the future, given bipartisan support from Congress.

News Story (NATIONAL)

Zoe Tillman
BuzzFeed
May 23, 2017
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Tags: Funding: Federal

Organizations mentioned/involved: Legal Services Corporation (LSC)


DETAILS

The fate of the agency’s budget ultimately lies with Congress, though, and several Republicans in the House and Senate have already joined Democrats in opposing the cut. In a May 18 letter obtained by BuzzFeed News, Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn — the second ranking Republican in the Senate — and two other Senate Republicans joined Democrats in urging the Senate Committee on Appropriations to provide “robust funding” for the agency.

“Recent research shows that civil legal aid is a good investment of taxpayer dollars, as it reduces clients’ reliance on other types of governmental aid and enhances their ability to participate in the marketplaces,” the letter says.