In our years representing communities across the country, from rural Michigan to the Florida coast, from Greater Boston to urban Indiana, one truth held steady: government works best when it meets people where they are and helps them solve real problems.
Civil legal services do exactly that.
Every day, in every congressional district, Americans face civil legal problems they can’t handle alone — often through no fault of their own. These aren’t partisan issues. They involve life-affecting circumstances: a veteran wrongfully denied benefits, a senior scammed by a contractor, a survivor of domestic violence seeking a protection order, a relative trying to adopt a child who has lost his parents.
Without legal help, these problems can spiral, threatening families, livelihoods and community stability.
That’s where the Legal Services Corporation comes in.
The four of us come from different political parties, but we share the belief that basic legal support should not be reserved for those who can afford a lawyer. And we believe strongly that any federal program must be accountable, limited in scope and transparent to taxpayers. That’s exactly what the Legal Services Corporation delivers.
Nearly 95 percent of the Legal Services Corporation’s budget goes straight to local legal assistance providers that operate in every state and territory, including all 435 congressional districts. The rest supports oversight and accountability. Rather than building bureaucracy, the Legal Services Corporation strengthens the work of community-based partners that understand local needs. At a time when Congress is grappling with the responsible use of taxpayer dollars, it stands out as a model of smart, effective investment.
What’s more, Congress has placed some of the strictest limitations in government on how LSC funds can be used. By law, grantees are prohibited from engaging in political activity or filing class actions, immigration cases or policy litigation. These guardrails ensure that taxpayer dollars are used for one purpose: helping everyday Americans resolve legal problems before they grow more complex and costly.
And it works. Studies show that every $1 invested in civil legal aid through LSC returns nearly $7 in economic value, including savings for courts, shelters and emergency services, and increased economic productivity. When people can resolve legal problems early, they’re more likely to stay in the workforce, care for their families and contribute to their communities. That means fewer costly emergencies and a stronger local economy.
In an era of rising skepticism toward Washington, the Legal Services Corporation is a model of how taxpayer investment should operate: locally delivered, fiscally efficient and laser-focused on real impact.
We’ve seen the difference legal assistance makes for our constituents — and we know the current lawmakers we all once served with have, too. This isn’t just another budget line. It’s a lifeline for millions of hardworking Americans.
Congress would be smart to continue this vital investment for our communities across America.
Susan Brooks is a Republican and former U.S. representative from Indiana. Joe Kennedy, a former U.S. special envoy for Northern Ireland, is a Democrat and former U.S. representative from Massachusetts. Patrick Murphy is a Democrat and former U.S. representative from Pennsylvania who also served as the 32nd United States undersecretary of the Army. Fred Upton is a Republican and former U.S. representative from Michigan.
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