NLADA Says Eliminating the Legal Services Corporation and Defunding the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program Will Severely Decrease Access to Justice for Low-Income Americans

Contact: Sharon Singh: [email protected]; @NLADA

NLADA Says Eliminating the Legal Services Corporation and Defunding the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program Will Severely Decrease Access to Justice for Low-Income Americans

(Washington, DC) Jo-Ann Wallace, President and CEO, National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA) issued the following statement in response to the administration’s proposed budget released today:

“We are deeply disappointed that the administration’s budget again proposes to eliminate the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) and defund the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF). LSC grantees provide necessary legal services in every county in the United States, ensuring that rural Americans, veterans, victims of domestic violence and natural disasters, seniors and many others who face life-changing legal problems have access to fair and equitable treatment. The PSLF program provides an avenue for ensuring that advocates serving low-income communities are able to provide services to those communities which need it most.”

“Defunding the Legal Services Corporation and the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program promises only to exacerbate the unjust gap in access to legal services that already exists. NLADA urges Congress to again increase its allocation to these critical programs as the legislative budget process moves forward.”

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The National Legal Aid & Defender Association, founded in 1911, is America’s oldest and largest nonprofit association devoted to excellence in the delivery of legal services to those who cannot afford counsel. NLADA has pioneered access to justice at the national, state and local levels through the creation of our public defender systems and other important institutions from The Sentencing Project to the Legal Services Corporation. A leader in the development of national standards for civil legal aid and public defense, NLADA also provides advocacy, training and technical assistance for equal justice advocates across the country.