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Union Calendar No. 278 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 788 

[Report No. 118–339] 

To limit donations made pursuant to settlement agreements to which the 

United States is a party, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 2, 2023 

Mr. GOODEN of Texas (for himself, Mr. DESJARLAIS, Mr. TIFFANY, Mr. NORMAN, Mr. MOOLENAAR, Mr. LUETKEMEYER, Mr. PERRY, Mr. ISSA, Mr. 

WEBER of Texas, Mr. BIGGS, Ms. TENNEY, Mr. ELLZEY, Mr. PALMER, 

and Mr. CLINE) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 

Committee on the Judiciary 

JANUARY 9, 2024 

Additional sponsors: Mr. ROUZER, Mr. FRY, and Mr. BISHOP of North 

Carolina 

JANUARY 9, 2024 

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 

House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed 

[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 

[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on February 2, 2023] 


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•HR 788 RH

A BILL 

To limit donations made pursuant to settlement agreements 

to which the United States is a party, and for other 

purposes. 


ssavage on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
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•HR 788 RH

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Stop Settlement Slush 

5 Funds Act of 2023’’. 

6 SEC. 2. LIMITATION ON DONATIONS MADE PURSUANT TO 

7 SETTLEMENT AGREEMENTS TO WHICH THE 

8 UNITED STATES IS A PARTY. 

9 (a) LIMITATION ON REQUIRED DONATIONS.—An offi10 cial or agent of the Government may not enter into or en11 force any settlement agreement on behalf of the United 

12 States directing or providing for a payment to any person 

13 or entity other than the United States, other than a pay14 ment that provides restitution for or otherwise directly rem15 edies actual harm (including to the environment) directly 

16 and proximately caused by the party making the payment, 

17 or constitutes payment for services rendered in connection 

18 with the case. 

19 (b) PENALTY.—Any official or agent of the Govern20 ment who violates subsection (a) shall be subject to the same 

21 penalties that would apply in the case of a violation of sec22 tion 3302 of title 31, United States Code. 

23 (c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Subsections (a) and (b) apply 

24 only in the case of a settlement agreement entered on or 

25 after the date of enactment of this Act. 


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•HR 788 RH

1 (d) DEFINITION.—The term ‘‘settlement agreement’’ 

2 means a settlement agreement resolving a civil action or 

3 potential civil action. 

4 (e) REPORTS ON SETTLEMENT AGREEMENTS.— 

5 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than at the end of 

6 the first fiscal year that begins after the date of enact7 ment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the head of 

8 each Federal agency shall submit electronically to the 

9 Congressional Budget Office a report on each settle10 ment agreement entered into by that agency during 

11 that fiscal year that directs or provides for a payment 

12 to a person or entity other than the United States 

13 that is providing restitution for or otherwise directly 

14 remedies actual harm (including to the environment) 

15 directly and proximately caused by the party making 

16 the payment, or that constitutes payment for services 

17 rendered in connection with the case, which shall in18 clude the parties to each settlement agreement, the 

19 source of the settlement funds, and where and how 

20 such funds were and will be distributed. 

21 (2) PROHIBITION ON ADDITIONAL FUNDING.—No 

22 additional funds are authorized to be appropriated to 

23 carry out this subsection. 


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•HR 788 RH

1 (3) SUNSET.—This subsection shall cease to be 

2 effective on the date that is 7 years after the date of 

3 enactment of this Act. 

4 (f) ANNUAL AUDIT REQUIREMENT.— 

5 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than at the end of 

6 the first fiscal year that begins after the date of enact7 ment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Inspec8 tor General of each Federal agency shall submit a re9 port on any settlement agreement entered into in vio10 lation of this section by that agency to— 

11 (A) the Committee on the Judiciary, the 

12 Committee on the Budget, and the Committee on 

13 Appropriations of the Senate; and 

14 (B) the Committee on the Judiciary, the 

15 Committee on the Budget, and the Committee on 

16 Appropriations of the House of Representatives. 

17 (2) PROHIBITION ON ADDITIONAL FUNDING.—No 

18 additional funds are authorized to be appropriated to 

19 carry out this subsection. 


ssavage on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
Union Calendar No. 278 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 788 

[Report No. 118–339] 

A BILL 

To limit donations made pursuant to settlement 

party, and for other purposes. agreements to which the United States is a 

JANUARY 9, 2024 

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Comand ordered to be printed mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, 


ssavage on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS