HIRRE Prosecutors Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 6666
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-12-11: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-24T08:08:43Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Helping Improve Recruitment and Retention Efforts for Prosecutors Act of 2025 (H.R. 6666), also known as the HIRRE Prosecutors Act of 2025, aims to address shortages in prosecutorial staff by directing the U.S. Attorney General to create a federal grant program. This program would provide funding to state, territorial, local, and tribal governments to hire, retain, and train prosecutors and their support staff, ultimately strengthening the criminal justice system.
Key Provisions
- Program Establishment: The Attorney General must create the program within one year of the bill's enactment. Grants are awarded competitively to prosecutor's offices in eligible jurisdictions (states, territories, local governments, or tribal governments).
- Application Process: Eligible offices must submit applications with details determined by the Attorney General, including project plans focused on hiring, retention, and training.
- Allowable Uses of Funds: Grants can only support hiring new prosecutors or support staff, retaining current ones, and providing training. The Department of Justice (DOJ) may use its components to administer the program.
- Preferential Considerations: Priority goes to applications for:
- Hiring and training new staff.
- Rehiring prosecutors laid off due to budget cuts.
- Jurisdictions in tribal, remote, or rural areas (as defined under the Violence Against Women Act of 1994).
- Funding Requirements:
- Federal contribution covers up to 75% of project costs; recipients must match at least 25%, though waivers are possible for financial hardship.
- Funds cannot replace (supplant) existing state, local, or tribal budgets but must supplement them.
- Non-federal matching can include assets from federal forfeiture programs or tribal funds from the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
- Oversight and Evaluation:
- Projects must include monitoring of activities and data collection.
- The Attorney General will evaluate grants individually or nationally and may require reports.
- Non-compliance can lead to funding suspension or revocation.
- Funding Authorization: $10 million is authorized annually for fiscal years 2026 through 2030. The Attorney General can issue regulations to implement the program.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces a new, standalone grant program under the DOJ, creating fresh authority for federal funding specifically targeted at prosecutor recruitment and retention. It does not amend or repeal existing laws but builds on prior frameworks, such as definitions from the Violence Against Women Act and DOJ's general grant administration powers. No direct alterations to current criminal justice statutes are specified.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The DOJ gains responsibility for administering the program, including grant awards, evaluations, and regulations, which could strain resources if funding is limited. State, local, territorial, and tribal prosecutor's offices may see improved staffing, leading to more efficient case handling and reduced backlogs.
- On Citizens: Enhanced prosecutorial capacity could result in timelier justice, better enforcement of laws, and improved public safety, particularly in underserved rural, remote, or tribal areas. However, impacts depend on grant distribution and local implementation.
- On International Relations: No direct effects, as the bill focuses on domestic U.S. criminal justice systems.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Prosecutor's Offices: State, territorial, local, and tribal entities directly benefit from grants to address staffing shortages.
- Department of Justice: Responsible for program setup, grant awards, oversight, and evaluations.
- Taxpayers and Governments: Federal funds support local efforts, but matching requirements and nonsupplanting rules ensure shared costs; rural and tribal communities may gain disproportionate benefits due to preferences.
- Laid-Off or Potential Prosecutors: Opportunities for rehiring and new hires could stabilize careers in public service.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal Implications: The bill emphasizes accountability through monitoring and nonsupplanting rules to prevent misuse of funds, aligning with federal grant standards. It promotes equity by allowing waivers for financially strained areas, potentially reducing disparities in justice access.
- Constitutional Implications: No apparent conflicts with constitutional principles; it operates under Congress's spending power (Article I, Section 8) to support state and local functions without infringing on federalism.
- Political Implications: Introduced with bipartisan support (cosponsors from both parties), the bill highlights a nonpartisan concern over prosecutor shortages. Its focus on rural and tribal areas could appeal to diverse constituencies, but implementation success hinges on annual appropriations, which may face budgetary debates.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (18)
Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2], Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2], Rep. Kennedy, Timothy M. [D-NY-26], Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10], Rep. Scott, David [D-GA-13], Rep. Ciscomani, Juan [R-AZ-6], Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10], Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2], Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5], Rep. Thompson, Glenn [R-PA-15], Rep. Norcross, Donald [D-NJ-1], Rep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2], Rep. Kiley, Kevin [R-CA-3], Rep. Sorensen, Eric [D-IL-17], Rep. Subramanyam, Suhas [D-VA-10], Rep. Pou, Nellie [D-NJ-9]
Recent Actions
- 2025-12-11: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2025-12-11: Introduced in House
- 2025-12-11: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Helping Improve Recruitment and Retention Efforts for Prosecutors Act of 2025 — issued 2025-12-11 — PDF (6 pages)