Legal Services Corporation: Basic Facts and Current Status

Publication Date: July 2003

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: Social conditions

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Abstract:

The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) is a private nonprofit, federally funded corporation that helps provide legal assistance to low-income people in civil matters. Although the authorization of appropriations for the Corporation expired at the end of FY1980, the LSC has operated for the past 23 years under annual appropriations laws. P.L. 108-7, consolidated appropriations for FY2003, increased LSC funding to $338.8 million for FY2003. Current funding still remains below the Corporation's highest level of $400 million in FY1994 and FY1995. For FY2004, the Bush Administration again requested $329.3 million for the LSC. This is $9.5 million less than the $338.8 million that was appropriated for the LSC for FY2003 to offset decennial Census funding reallocations. The $338.8 million LSC appropriation for FY2003 was subject to the 0.65% across-the-board rescission, which brings the LSC FY2003 appropriation down to $336.6 million. On July 16, 2003, the House Appropriations Committee recommended a total of $338.8 million for the LSC (H.R. 2799, See H.Rept. 108-221). On July 23, 2003, the House passed H.R. 2799 which included $338.8 million for the LSC for FY2004. This report which is continually updated provides background information and tracks relevant legislation and appropriations measures.