Like last year, Legal Services Corp. is proposed for defunding in President Donald Trump's 2019 budget. Noting that support for civil legal aid enjoys bipartisan Congressional support, LSC leaders remain confident that Congress will step in to continue funding.

"LSC is the nation's largest single funder of civil legal aid, distributing more than 94% of its funding to more than 800 offices nationwide," LSC's Feb. 12 press release noted. "These organizations serve low-income individuals, children, families, seniors, and veterans in every congressional district."

LSC funding makes up about 35 percent of LASP's budget. Federal money that is endangered based on the White House budget is more like 41 percent of LASP's budget, including Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding through the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development, and some other funding streams.

The American Bar Association's ABA Journal discusses its response to last year's proposed funding threat: http://bit.ly/ABA_LSCfunding.

For more information, see LSC's press release on the 2019 budget proposal: http://bit.ly/LSC_Bipartisan.

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A birth certificate clinic, sponsored in part by LASP, was held Jan. 19 at the United Way Financial Stability Center in Exton. Clients who have been unsuccessful in obtaining their birth certificates met with  seven  volunteer attorneys, who requested their birth certificates for them. No fees or ID were required. The volunteers,  including several attorneys from a regional corporation which  prefers  to remain anonymous , met one-on-one with about 20 clients. "We'll be able to help with requesting 15 birth certificates," LASP staff attorney  Brian   Doyle  said.