AUSAs are responsible for:

• Combating violent crime, such as the bombing of the Federal Building on Oklahoma City in April 1995.
• Dismantling criminal gangs, such as the prosecution of a violent gang in California that ended with a 26-count indictment charging 22 gang members with murder, attempted murder, narcotics and firearms charges.
• Fighting drugs and dismantling international drug cartels.
• Returning billions of dollars a year to the U.S. Treasury through affirmative civil enforcement actions.
  

NAAUSA’s origins date back to a 1989 report from the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee. The report, based on a survey returned by 75% of Assistant United States Attorneys documented wide-spread dissatisfaction with AUSA compensation, unreasonable salary caps and the enormous disparity between AUSA retirement benefits and those in law enforcement.

Late in 1993, several AUSAs, concerned about the lack of action from the 1989 report, started the National Association of Assistant United States Attorneys. Unfortunately, as membership was reaching the point where NAAUSA could begin to be effective, on November 7, 1994, the Attorney General was advised that 18 U.S.C. § 205 prohibited NAAUSA members from communicating with federal agencies or Congress on any matter affecting AUSA employment, pay caps, or retirement issues.

This DOJ advice curtailed NAAUSA’s ability to pursue its objectives until September 1996, when NAAUSA staff and other professional associations successfully convinced Congress to pass a law nullifying the DOJ interpretation of 18 U.S.C. § 205.

History
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 NAAUSA's security legislation passes the House and Senate.