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Dear EDs and LSC Colleagues:
This has been a rather tumultuous week in Congress. With the then current Continuing Resolution (CR) set to expire at midnight Friday, after two failed attempts the House finally passed a second FY 2025 CR to fund the federal government through March 14, 2025 on Friday night. This includes funding for LSC at the FY 2024 level of $560 million. The Senate passed the legislation later that night. The President signed the American Relief Act, 2025 (H.R. 10545) – into law on Saturday.
We are very disappointed that the $102 billion Disaster Supplemental appropriation attached to the CR does not include any funding for LSC. We had submitted a request for $103 million to cover the 29 states and territory impacted by federally declared disasters in 2023-2024 that the White House included in their request to Congress. Our understanding is that this decision was made by senior House leadership, and although many Members of Congress – both Republican and Democrat – argued in support of funding for LSC, they were overruled, as were the recommendations of the appropriations subcommittees. We have spent the past few days, along with members of LSC’s Board of Directors and allies such as the ABA and NLADA, strongly advocating that disaster funds for LSC grantees be included in the final package – to no avail.
We will regroup in the new year and determine how best to move forward strategically. Best wishes over the holidays. -Carol
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