August 29, 2003

U.S. Senator Pete V. Domenici
328 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Fax: (202) 224-5249

U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye
722 Senate Hart Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Fax: (202) 224-6747

U.S. Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell
380 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Fax: (202) 224-5429

Re. Increasing the Native American Line Item in the Legal Services Corporation Funding

Dear Senator Domenici, Senator Campbell, and Senator Inouye:

[Name of Tribe] strongly urges you to increase the Native American line item of the Legal Services Corporation Congressional appropriation in order to bring the funding level of Native American legal services programs, including California Indian Legal Services (CILS), to the same level as the basic field legal services programs throughout the rest of the country.

The 2000 Census indicates that funding for many Native American programs has fallen dramatically below the average funding level of basic field programs. Currently, CILS receives approximately $5.77 per poor Native American in California, when the average funding for basic field programs is at $8.78. This discrepancy in funding severely impacts CILS’ ability to operate and provide services to our tribal members effectively.

Our tribal members rely on CILS for legal assistance for legal problems that stem from their status as Native Americans. We believe that the services of CILS directly address the unique problems experienced by our tribal people because of who they are. CILS has been, and remains, a critical resource for all California Indians and Indian tribes, and should receive the same funding as other California legal services programs so that our people have the same access to justice as other citizens of California.

Please help increase the Native American line item so that this very important service is maintained at a level that provides meaningful access to justice.

Sincerely yours,