LSC Reauthorization Bill Introduced in House
Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.) and six other members of Congress introduced a bill on Oct. 8 to reauthorize the Legal Services Corporation. The bill, the Civil Access to Justice Act of 2009 (H.R. 3764), is the companion to the reauthorization bill (S. 718) Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) introduced in March.
According to a statement on Rep. Scott’s website, the bill would set LSC’s authorized funding level to $750 million annually, would lift some restrictions on the activities of LSC-funded programs and would provide for more effective administration of LSC.
“I am particularly pleased that we are introducing this bill, not only because it helps those in need, but because of my personal experiences with the program,” said Rep. Scott in a statement for the Congressional Record. “Over 30 years ago, I was the founding Chairman of the Board of Peninsula Legal Aid Center, Inc., so I am aware of the need for resources to make a legal services program fully operational. In this bill, we are seeking to ensure that the Corporation has the resources required to help those in need.”
Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law, which is responsible for conducting oversight of LSC, is a co-sponsor of the bill. In a statement for the Congressional Record, Cohen said, “The current economic downturn will likely lead to more families and individuals needing legal assistance.” He stated that the funding authorization in the bill “will help close the justice gap and provide civil legal assistance to all potential eligible clients.”
The five other co-sponsors of the bill are John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, William D. Delahunt (D-Mass.), Henry C. Johnson, Jr. (D-Ga.), Linda T. Sanchez (D-Calif.) and Melvin L. Watt (D-N.C.), all of whom are members of the Commercial and Administrative Law subcommittee.