#aaeth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,in the ,house of ,representatives1 ,u4 ,s41 ,july #ag1 #bjah ,,amendment3 ,that the bill from the ,senate 7,s4 #gag7 entitled ,an ,act to promote pro bono legal services as a critical way in which to empower survivors of domestic violence41 do pass with the following ,strike out all after the enacting clause and insert3 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,pro bono ,work to ,empower and ,represent ,act of #bjah or the ,,power ,act4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,extremely high rates of domestic violence1 dating violence1 sexual assault1 and stalking exist at the local1 ,state1 tribal1 and national levels and such violence or behavior harms the most vulnerable members of our society4 7#b7 ,according to a study commissioned by the ,department of ,justice1 nearly #be percent of women suffer from domestic violence during their lifetime4 7#c7 ,proactive efforts should be made available in all forums to provide pro bono legal services and eliminate the violence that destroys lives and shatters families4 7#d7 ,a variety of factors cause domestic violence1 dating violence1 sexual assault1 and stalking1 and a variety of solutions at the local1 ,state1 and national levels are necessary to combat such violence or behavior4 7#e7 ,according to the ,national ,network to ,end ,domestic ,violence1 which conducted a census including almost #a1gjj assistance programs1 over the course of #a day in ,september #bjad1 more than #aj1jjj requests for services1 including legal representation1 were not met4 7#f7 ,pro bono assistance can help fill this need by providing not only legal representation1 but also access to emergency shelter1 transportation1 and childcare4 7#g7 ,research and studies have demonstrated that the provision of legal assistance to victims of domestic violence1 dating violence1 sexual assault1 and stalking reduces the probability of such violence or behavior reoccurring in the future and can help survivors move forward4 7#h7 ,legal representation increases the possibility of successfully obtaining a protective order against an attacker1 which prevents further mental and physical injury to a victim and his or her family1 as demonstrated by a study that found that #hc percent of victims represented by an attorney were able to obtain a protective order1 whereas only #cb percent of victims without an attorney were able to do so4 7#i7 ,the ,american ,bar ,association ,model ,rules include commentary stating that every lawyer1 regardless of professional prominence or professional workload1 has a responsibility to provide legal services to those unable to pay1 and personal involvement in the problems of the disadvantaged can be one of the most rewarding experiences in the life of a lawyer4 7#aj7 ,as leaders in their legal communities1 judges in district courts should encourage lawyers to provide pro bono resources in an effort to help victims of such violence or behavior escape the cycle of abuse4 7#aa7 ,a dedicated army of pro bono attorneys focused on this mission will inspire others to devote efforts to this cause and will raise awareness of the scourge of domestic violence1 dating violence1 sexual assault1 and stalking throughout the country4 7#ab7 ,communities1 by providing awareness of pro bono legal services and assistance to survivors of domestic violence1 dating violence1 sexual assault1 and stalking1 will empower those survivors to move forward with their lives4 #c4 ,district courts to promote empowerment events 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 and annually thereafter for a period of #d years1 the chief judge1 or his or her designee1 for each judicial district shall lead not less than one public event1 in partnership with a ,state1 local1 tribal1 or territorial domestic violence service provider or coalition and a ,state or local volunteer lawyer project1 promoting pro bono legal services as a critical way in which to empower survivors of domestic violence1 dating violence1 sexual assault1 and stalking and engage citizens in assisting those survivors4 7b7 ,districts containing ,indian tribes and tribal organizations ,during each #b-year period1 the chief judge1 or his or her designee1 for a judicial district that contains an ,indian tribe or tribal organization 7as those terms are defined in section #d of the ,indian ,self-,determination and ,education ,assistance ,act 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #ecjd77 shall lead not less than one public event promoting pro bono legal services under subsection 7a7 of this section in partnership with an ,indian tribe or tribal organization with the intent of increasing the provision of pro bono legal services for ,indian or ,alaska ,native victims of domestic violence1 dating violence1 sexual assault1 and stalking4 7c7 ,requirements ,each chief judge shall-- 7#a7 have discretion as to the design1 organization1 and implementation of the public events required under subsection 7a72 and 7#b7 in conducting a public event under subsection 7a71 seek to maximize the local impact of the event and the provision of access to high-quality pro bono legal services by survivors of domestic violence1 dating violence1 sexual assault1 and stalking4 #d4 ,reporting requirements 7a7 ,report to the ,director of the ,administrative ,office of the ,united ,states ,courts ,not later than ,october #cj of each year1 each chief judge shall submit to the ,director of the ,administrative ,office of the ,united ,states ,courts a report detailing each public event conducted under section #c during the previous fiscal year4 7b7 ,report to ,congress 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than ,january #a of each year1 the ,director of the ,administrative ,office of the ,united ,states ,courts shall submit to ,congress a compilation and summary of each report received under subsection 7a7 for the previous fiscal year4 7#b7 ,requirement ,each comprehensive report submitted under paragraph 7#a7 shall include an analysis of how each public event meets the goals set forth in this ,act1 as well as suggestions on how to improve future public events4 #e4 ,funding ,the ,administrative ,office of the ,united ,states ,courts shall use existing funds to carry out the requirements of this ,act4 ,clerk4