SIU law school gets funds to help veterans

Carbondale, ill. — U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin announced Thursday that the Senate Appropriations Committee has approved $4 million for projects in Illinois in the Commerce, Justice and Science spending bill.

The Fiscal Year 2011 Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Bill includes funding for the following projects in southern Illinois:

Southern Illinois University: $250,000 in funding to support the Veterans Legal Assistance Program at the Southern Illinois University School of Law. The purpose of VLAP is to provide pro-bono legal assistance to Illinois veterans in the disability claims process, provide opportunities to law students interested in pro-bono or public service work and train and provide assistance to local attorneys seeking pro-bono opportunities within the community.

Christian Activity Center, East St. Louis: $250,000 in funding to allow the Christian Activity Center to expand after school programs for at-risk youth, including tutoring and recreation programming, which provide an alternative to the violence, drugs and gang activity in the surrounding community.