From staff reports

HARRISBURG — Attorney General Dave Sunday is leading a bipartisan coalition of 40 attorneys general urging Congress to continue funding the Legal Services Corporation, the nation’s largest provider of financial support for civil legal aid programs serving low-income Americans.

In a letter to congressional appropriations leaders, the coalition requested continued funding for the Legal Services Corporation, or LSC, in the fiscal year 2027 federal budget. The attorneys general said the organization plays a critical role in providing legal assistance to individuals who cannot afford representation in civil matters, including housing disputes, consumer protection cases, family safety issues, veterans’ benefits claims and disaster recovery efforts.

“The Legal Services Corporation provides a lifeline for individuals and families facing serious legal challenges who otherwise could not afford representation,” Sunday said in a statement.

Established by Congress in 1974, LSC supports a nationwide network of 129 independent legal aid organizations operating through more than 900 offices across the country. According to the coalition, nearly 95% of the organization’s federal funding is distributed directly to local legal aid providers.

In Pennsylvania, LSC funding supports the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, Inc., which provides civil legal services in all 67 counties through 77 legal aid offices. In 2025, the network provided free legal assistance to nearly 81,000 households, serving more than 176,500 Pennsylvanians.

The coalition’s letter also highlighted the importance of legal aid services in rural communities, where attorney shortages can limit access to legal representation. The attorneys general cited studies indicating that every dollar invested in civil legal aid generates an estimated $7 in societal benefits.

The effort was led by the attorneys general of Pennsylvania, Colorado, North Carolina and Tennessee and was joined by attorneys general and territorial representatives from more than three dozen states and U.S. jurisdictions.