National Association of Assistant

United States Attorneys

 

History of activities in support of AUSAs

 

1989 – AGAC Retention Committee makes recommendations, including designating AUSAs as law enforcement officers for retirement purposes, to AG to improve AUSA retention

 

1990 – 1992 Although 75% of AUSAs participated in the survey of the AGAC Retention Committee, no action is taken on ANY of the Committee’s recommendations

 

1993 – Participants in the AGAC Retention Committee, concerned over the lack of DOJ action on the Committee’s recommendation’s, form NAAUSA

 

1994 – 1995 – DOJ “shuts down” NAAUSA based on “violations” of 18 U.S.C. § 205

 

1996 – NAAUSA joins with other federal employee groups to seek legislation to allow federal employee organizations to represent their members before agencies and Congress.  Congress passes legislation that is P.L. 104-177.

 

1997 – NAAUSA members and staff complete 21 page comprehensive justification for law enforcement retirement benefits for AUSAs

 

1998 – Rep. Tom Davis (R-VA) introduces legislation to provide AUSAs with the same retirement benefits as law enforcement officers, including mandatory retirement.  Congress ends with bill securing two (2) cosponsors

 

1999 – Lobbied Congress to successfully include AUSAs in legislation, P.L. 106-58, to authorize federal agencies to pay half of the cost of professional liability insurance.  Lobbied Congress to kill Senate plan to appoint ALL new AUSAs to two-year terms.

 

2000 – Secured 93 cosponsors (an increase of 91 above last Congress) on legislation, H.R. 583, to improve AUSA retirement benefits

 

2001 – Coordinated letter to Congress from six former AGs opposing McDade amendment.  Wrote part of AG’s testimony to Congress on McDade.  Rep. Davis introduces NAAUSA AUSA retirement legislation.

 

2002 – 107th Congress ends with 196 cosponsors of NAAUSA retirement legislation.

 

2003 – Rep Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) introduces H.R. 2260 to provide AUSAs with improved retirement benefits.

 

2004 – NAAUSA contracts with federal benefit firm that wrote FERS legislation to develop costs alternatives for AUSA retirement legislation.  NAAUSA secures 149 cosponsors of H.R. 2260

 

2005 - NAAUSA writes Congress to object to the DOJ decision to deny attorney comp time for official travel.  NAAUSA meets with House Judiciary Committee staff to include AUSAs in the legislation on Judge’s security.

 

2006 – NAAUSA’s comp time legislation is signed into law and the House and Senate pass some of the provisions of NAAUSA's AUSA security proposals.