(Washington, DC)- Today, House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI) and Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX) introduced the Domestic Violence Volunteer Attorney Network Act. The bill seeks to increase access to legal services for domestic violence victims and creates a nationwide network of volunteer attorney referrals. Chairman Conyers' remarks, as prepared for delivery, follow:
Madam Speaker, today I am introducing the “Domestic Violence Volunteer Attorney Network Act,” legislation that addresses the need to increase legal services for victims of domestic violence by creating a coordinated, nationwide system of attorney referrals to assist domestic violence victims. I am joined in this effort by Representative Poe.
Domestic violence continues to be a problem in our country. Nearly one in four women will be a victim of domestic violence in her lifetime, and between three and ten million children witness acts of domestic violence each year. Domestic violence is not just physical but affects every aspect of a woman’s life, including her mental and emotional well-being.
In 2005, Congress reauthorized the Violence Against Women Act, continuing programs such as STOP and Legal Assistance for Victims, as well as adding new programs that focus on prevention and services for youth and children.
But there is still a huge gap in services and resources for victims who need help navigating the legal system. Obtaining effective protection orders, initiating divorce proceedings or designing safe child custody arrangements are all key components to stopping the violence, because these are often the first real steps that battered women can take to leave an abusive home.
The problem is not that the resources do not exist; in fact, many lawyers want to volunteer their time to provide legal assistance to victims of domestic violence. The problem is in bridging the gap between these willing and able advocates and the victims seeking access to the justice system.
Our bill, the Domestic Violence Volunteer Attorney Network Act, has several components:
- Creates an electronic network of volunteer attorneys. The network will be managed by the American Bar Association Commission on Domestic Violence, which will solicit and mentor the lawyers and conduct training and provide other technical assistance.
- Authorizes new funds to the National Domestic Violence Hotline to update the system and train advocates on how to provide referrals for voluntary attorneys.
- Creates a pilot program to implement the volunteer attorney network in five states. The program will be administered by the Office of Violence Against Women in DOJ. After these five years, if successful, the program will be rolled out nationally.
- Establishes a Domestic Violence Legal Advisory Task Force, which will monitor the program and make recommendations.
- Mandates a study by the National Institute of Justice to assess the scope and quality of legal services available to battered women in each state. The GAO will report to Congress within one year.
The legislation is supported by a broad range of interests and experts, including the National Network to End Domestic Violence, the Legal Resource Center for Violence Against Women, the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, the ABA, National Legal Aid and Defenders Association, the National Association for Attorneys General, and the National Center for the Victims of Crime.
This legislation is an important next step in our fight to defeat domestic violence and assist victims. A companion bill has been introduced in the Senate by Senators Biden and Specter. I am hopeful that Congress can move quickly to enact this worthwhile and timely legislation.
