I recently bought a 96 Grand Cherokee and I can't seem to get the back seats to lay down so I can expand the rear cargo area. The seat behind the front passenger will work but not the one behind the drivers side. I found a leather strap that has to be pulled so the bottom cushion will flip forward but it wont budge. What am I missing? Is there a lever?

Should just pull up. My 98 doesn't have a lever to to get the bottom cushion up but it does have a lever to lay the back down.

Raise the pass. side cushion and see if you can see under it with a light. It's just caught on something underneath. Grab the rear of the cushion, not the strap, and give it a good jerk up and forward.
And Welcome to CF from Dan in Tenn..

it's a weird latch you see if you get it up push back and lift or drive jeep into bowl of wd-40

My 95 has a lever for the seat back that is easily over looked.