The ABA expressed strong support June 19 for the fiscal year 2018 budget of $738 million requested by the Library of Congress, a 7.8 percent increase that includes adequate funding for the activities of the Law Library of Congress. “The informational resources provided by the Library of Congress and its Law Library support business development, job creation, and international relations,” ABA Governmental Affairs Director Thomas M. Susman wrote in a letter to Sens. James Lankford (R-Okla.), chairman, and Chris Murphy (D-Ct.), ranking member, of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch. Susman noted that the ABA, with its 85-year relationship with the library through its Standing Committee on the Law Library of Congress, is aware of the challenges of meeting the enormous and complex demands faced by the Law Library. In addition to thousands of requests and inquiries, the Law Library has a critical role in restoring world governments through repatriation of legal materials following wars and natural disasters. The collection also includes numerous historical documents that are important to understanding and administering legal systems. “The priorities identified by the Law Library for next year are important to fulfilling its mission to serve Congress and the nation effectively,” Susman wrote. Fiscal year 2018 appropriations legislation approved June 29 by the House Appropriations Committee includes $648 million for the Library of Congress, and the Senate Appropriations Committee included $638.9 million in the funding bill it approved July 27.