The LSC Budget Process

Each year the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) submits a formal budget request to the Congress for the following fiscal year. Prior to their submission, NLADA sends a memo to LSC recommending the budget mark to be requested from Congress. In September 2007, NLADA sent a letter to LSC recommending a mark of at least $578,935,238 for FY 2009. This figure, which is significantly higher than the current appropriation, is based upon an estimate in LSC's recent Documenting the Justice Gap in America report that 55% of persons seeking assistance from LSC grantees were turned away. NLADA's FY 2009 request is a part of a two-part process to increase federal funding to a level whereby LSC programs can meet the unmet legal needs of those living in poverty.

Please click onto the link below to read NLADA's memo to LSC:
LSC Budget Mark FY 2009 (pdf, 46 Kb)

Please click onto the link below to read LSC's budget request:
LSC FY 2009 Budget Request (pdf, 1 Mb)

Congressional Oversight

There are other venues for LSC-related activity throughout the year. The committees with oversight jurisdiction may hold hearings at the request of any member as long as the Chairman concurs. These same committees also have responsibility for the reauthorization of the LSC Act. The Act has not been reauthorized since 1980 although there have been several attempts by the House and the Senate over the last 28 years to do so.

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