Representatives Don Bacon of Nebraska’s 2nd District and Jimmy Panetta of California’s 19th District have reintroduced the bipartisan Helping Improve Recruitment and Retention Efforts for Prosecutors Act (HIRRE Prosecutors Act) of 2025. The legislation aims to support local governments in hiring, training, and retaining prosecutors by establishing a competitive federal grant program. This initiative is intended to help district attorneys’ offices prosecute cases effectively and maintain public safety.
The HIRRE Prosecutors Act would provide $10 million annually for grants to assist with staffing needs in prosecutors’ offices. According to lawmakers, many local prosecutor offices have experienced high turnover rates since the COVID-19 pandemic, with some states seeing rates as high as 43.5% in one year. Unlike police departments, these offices receive little federal assistance.
“Our local officials lack essential resources to effectively prosecute offenders. This legislation would provide support through the Department of Justice, helping to stabilize police departments and strengthen local attorney offices responsible for prosecuting cases,” said Rep. Bacon. “For those facing staffing and resource shortages in Nebraska, the added support from this bill would help ensure that cases are handled efficiently and fairly. Specifically, the HIRRE Prosecutors Act would establish a program offering competitive grants to district attorneys’ offices, with the goal of reinforcing public trust in the legal process.”
Rep. Panetta stated: “For far too long, our local district attorneys’ offices haven’t had the resources they need to compete with private, better-paying law firms for top talent. The HIRRE Prosecutors Act would create a first-of-its-kind federal grant program to invest in the legal talent needed to work as prosecutors and hold people accountable. With these types of grants, the federal government can play its part to help our local prosecutors’ offices properly seek truth and justice and help enhance public safety.”
Rep. Joe Neguse of Colorado’s 2nd District is also supporting this effort. He commented: “I’m proud to join Rep. Panetta in support of this historic program that provides support for our state, territorial, local, and tribal prosecutors, who work each and every day to protect the public. This bill, the HIRRE Prosecutors Act, will ensure that communities across the nation, especially folks in our rural and mountain communities, can recruit and retain qualified attorneys.”
Brian R. Marvel, President of the Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC), also expressed his support: “Since the pandemic, district attorney offices have faced significant recruitment and retention challenges, which has been exacerbated by a lack of federal support needed to address workforce shortages. The HIRRE Prosecutors Act is a critical step to remedy this – establishing a grant program that mirrors the support currently given to local law enforcement through the COPS Hiring Program to ensure that district attorneys’ offices have the resources they need to prosecute cases and uphold the rule of law in our communities. Thank you, Congressman Panetta, for your leadership and commitment to supporting local district attorneys across the country.”
Don Bacon has represented Nebraska’s 2nd District in Congress since 2017 after succeeding Brad Ashford (https://bacon.house.gov/about/). He was born in Momence, Illinois in 1963 and now lives in Papillion.
###
