[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 18021-18022]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    INTRODUCTION OF THE ``ENHANCED FINANCIAL RECOVERY AND EQUITABLE 
                   RETIREMENT TREATMENT ACT OF 2007''

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ARTUR DAVIS

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 27, 2007

  Mr. DAVIS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, as a former assistant United 
States attorney, I am pleased to introduce the ``Enhanced Financial 
Recovery and Equitable Retirement Treatment Act of 2007.'' This bill 
will enhance the Federal Government's capacity to collect unpaid 
judgments and restitutionary obligations owed to the United States and 
victims of crime, as well as strengthen the retirement benefits of 
assistant United States attorneys.
  Madam Speaker, as you are aware, United States Attorney Offices are 
responsible for criminal and civil debt collection efforts that result 
annually in billions of dollars that are turned over to Federal 
agencies and crime victims. Unfortunately, however, there remain 
billions of dollars that go uncollected due to the competing demands on 
our law enforcement officers. ``The Enhanced Financial Recovery and 
Equitable Treatment Act of 2007'' will address this problem by 
improving the process by which the Department of Justice collects 
criminal and civil debts owed to the United States and the victims of 
crime.
  But Madam Speaker, that is not all. The ``Enhanced Financial Recovery 
and Equitable Treatment Act of 2007,'' in addition to improving debt 
collection, will also significantly aid our law enforcement efforts in 
another important way: it will ensure that assistant United States 
attorneys receive the same retirements benefits as all other Federal 
law enforcement officials, thereby increasing the retention of our 
career Federal prosecutors. Indeed, despite their vital role in 
prosecuting criminals, despite their vital role in defending the United 
States in litigation, despite their vital role in keeping America safe, 
assistant United States attorneys are unfairly shortchanged in the 
retirement benefits they receive once their public service is complete. 
The retirement benefits of AUSAs are considerably lower than their law 
enforcement colleagues within the FBI, Secret Service, DEA, U.S. 
Marshals Service, and Bureau of Prisons. The ``Enhanced Financial 
Recovery and Equitable Treatment Act of 2007'' corrects this glaring 
inequality.
  Madam Speaker, I think it is fair to say that our career Federal 
prosecutors have been under tremendous pressure these past several 
months and their morale has been tested like never before. But in spite 
of that, day after day, week after week, month after month,

[[Page 18022]]

these men and women vigorously prosecute those that would seek to 
undermine our democracy and further weaken our rule of law. Our AUSAs 
deserve better, and we deserve better. Passing the ``Enhanced Financial 
Recovery and Equitable Treatment Act of 2007'' is the least we can do 
for those that work so hard to keep us safe.

                          ____________________