I 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1762 
To promote pro bono legal services as a critical way in which to empower 
survivors of domestic violence. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 28, 2017 
Mr. KENNEDY (for himself, Ms. GABBARD, Mr. YOUNG of Alaska, Mrs. 
MCMORRIS RODGERS, Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana, Ms. KUSTER of New 
Hampshire, Mr. MEEHAN, Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts, Mr. COHEN, Mr. 
SWALWELL of California, Ms. TSONGAS, Mr. JOYCE of Ohio, and Ms. 
SPEIER) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on the Judiciary 
A BILL 
To promote pro bono legal services as a critical way in 
which to empower survivors of domestic violence. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Pro bono Work to Em-
power and Represent Act of 2017’’ or ‘‘POWER Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
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(1) Extremely high rates of domestic violence, 
dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking exist at 
the local, State, and national levels and such vio-
lence or behavior harms the most vulnerable mem-
bers of our society. 
(2) According to a study commissioned by the 
Department of Justice, nearly 25 percent of women 
suffer from domestic violence during their lifetime. 
(3) Proactive efforts should be made available 
in all forums to provide pro bono legal services and 
eliminate the violence that destroys lives and shat-
ters families. 
(4) A variety of factors cause domestic violence, 
dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, and a 
variety of solutions at the local, State, and national 
level are necessary to combat such violence or behav-
ior. 
(5) According to the National Network to End 
Domestic Violence, which conducted a census includ-
ing almost 1,700 assistance programs, over the 
course of 1 day in September 2014, more than 
10,000 requests for services, including legal rep-
resentation, were not met. 
(6) Pro bono assistance can help fill this need 
by providing not only legal representation, but also 
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access to emergency shelter, transportation, and 
childcare. 
(7) Research and studies have demonstrated 
that the provision of legal assistance to victims of 
domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, 
and stalking reduces the probability of such violence 
or behavior reoccurring in the future and can help 
survivors move forward. 
(8) Legal representation increases the possi-
bility of successfully obtaining a protective order 
against an attacker, preventing further mental and 
physical injury to a victim and his or her family, 
demonstrated by a study that found that 83 percent 
of victims represented by an attorney were able to 
obtain a protective order compared to 32 percent of 
victims without an attorney. 
(9) The American Bar Association Model Rules 
include commentary that ‘‘every lawyer, regardless 
of professional prominence or professional workload, 
has a responsibility to provide legal services to those 
unable to pay, and personal involvement in the prob-
lems of the disadvantaged can be one of the most re-
warding experiences in the life of a lawyer’’. 
(10) As representatives of the Department of 
Justice, the duty of United States Attorneys is to 
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present ‘‘equal and impartial justice to all its citi-
zens,’’ which should include, especially, survivors of 
domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, 
and stalking who might not otherwise know how to 
seek advice and protection. 
(11) As Federal leaders who have knowledge of 
domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, 
and stalking in their localities, United States Attor-
neys should encourage lawyers to provide pro bono 
resources in an effort to help victims of such vio-
lence or behavior to escape the cycle of abuse. 
(12) A dedicated army of pro bono attorneys fo-
cused on this mission will inspire others to devote ef-
forts to this cause and will raise awareness of the 
scourge of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual 
assault, and stalking throughout the country. 
(13) Communities, by providing awareness of 
pro bono legal services and assistance to survivors of 
domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, 
and stalking, will empower those survivors to move 
forward with their lives. 
SEC. 3. U.S. ATTORNEYS TO PROMOTE EMPOWERMENT 
EVENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, and not less often than once 
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each year thereafter, each United States Attorney, or his 
or her designee, for each judicial district shall lead not 
less than 1 public event, in partnership with a State, local, 
tribal, or territorial domestic violence service provider or 
coalition and a State or local volunteer lawyer project, pro-
moting pro bono legal services as a critical way in which 
to empower survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, 
sexual assault, and stalking and engage citizens in assist-
ing those survivors. 
(b) DISTRICTS CONTAINING INDIAN TRIBES
AND 
TRIBAL ORGANIZATIONS.—During each 3-year period, a 
United States Attorney, or his or her designee, for a judi-
cial district that contains an Indian tribe or tribal organi-
zation (as those terms are defined in section 4 of the In-
dian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act 
(25 U.S.C. 450b)) shall lead not less than 1 public event 
promoting pro bono legal services under subsection (a) 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 do-
mestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalk-
ing. 
(c) REQUIREMENTS.—Each United States Attorney 
shall— 
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(1) have discretion on the design, organization, 
and implementation of the public events required 
under subsection (a); and 
(2) in conducting a public event under sub-
section (a), 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 violence, 
dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. 
SEC. 4. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. 
(a) REPORT
TO
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.—Not 
later than October 30 of each year, each United States 
Attorney shall submit to the Attorney General a report 
detailing each public event conducted under section 3 dur-
ing the previous fiscal year. 
(b) REPORT TO CONGRESS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than January 1 of 
each year, the Attorney General shall submit to Con-
gress a compilation and summary of each report re-
ceived under subsection (a) for the previous fiscal 
year. 
(2) REQUIREMENT.—Each comprehensive re-
port submitted under paragraph (1) shall include an 
analysis of how each public event meets the goals set 
forth in this Act, as well as suggestions on how to 
improve future public events. 
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SEC. 5. FUNDING. 
The Department of Justice shall use existing funds 
to carry out the requirements of this Act. 
Æ 
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