59–008 

114TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 2d Session 114–724 

PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE BILL (H.R. 5063) TO LIMIT DONATIONS MADE PURSUANT TO SETTLEMENT AGREEMENTS TO WHICH THE 

UNITED STATES IS A PARTY, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 

SEPTEMBER 6, 2016.—Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed 

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia, from the Committee on Rules, 

submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany H. Res. 843] 

The Committee on Rules, having had under consideration House 

Resolution 843, by a record vote of 9 to 2, report the same to the 

House with the recommendation that the resolution be adopted. 

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS OF THE RESOLUTION

The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 5063, the Stop 

Settlement Slush Funds Act of 2016, under a structured rule. The 

resolution waives all points of order against consideration of the 

bill. The resolution provides one hour of general debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of 

the Committee on the Judiciary. The resolution makes in order as 

original text for the purpose of amendment the amendment in the 

nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on the Judiciary now printed in the bill and provides that it shall be considered as read. The resolution waives all points of order against that 

amendment in the nature of a substitute. The resolution makes in 

order only those further amendments printed in this report. Each 

such amendment may be offered only in the order printed in this 

report, may be offered only by a Member designated in this report, 

shall be considered as read, shall be debatable for the time specified in this report equally divided and controlled by the proponent 

and an opponent, shall not be subject to amendment, and shall not 

be subject to a demand for division of the question in the House 

or in the Committee of the Whole. The resolution waives all points 

of order against the amendments printed in this report. The resolution provides one motion to recommit with or without instructions. 


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EXPLANATION OF WAIVERS

Although the resolution waives all points of order against consideration of the bill, the Committee is not aware of any points of 

order. The waiver is prophylactic in nature. 

Although the resolution waives all points of order against the 

amendment in the nature of a substitute made in order as original 

text, the Committee is not aware of any points of order. The waiver 

is prophylactic in nature. 

Although the resolution waives all points of order against the 

amendments printed in this report, the Committee is not aware of 

any points of order. The waiver is prophylactic in nature. 

COMMITTEE VOTES

The results of each record vote on an amendment or motion to 

report, together with the names of those voting for and against, are 

printed below: 

Rules Committee record vote No. 205 

Motion by Ms. Foxx to report the rule. Adopted: 9–2 

Majority Members Vote Minority Members Vote 

Ms. Foxx ............................................................ Yea Ms. Slaughter .................................................. .... 

Mr. Cole ............................................................ Yea Mr. McGovern ................................................... Nay 

Mr. Woodall ...................................................... Yea Mr. Hastings of Florida ................................... Nay 

Mr. Burgess ...................................................... Yea Mr. Polis ........................................................... .... 

Mr. Stivers ........................................................ Yea 

Mr. Collins ........................................................ Yea 

Mr. Byrne .......................................................... Yea 

Mr. Newhouse ................................................... Yea 

Mr. Sessions, Chairman ................................... Yea 

SUMMARY OF THE AMENDMENTS MADE IN ORDER

1. Conyers (MI), Johnson, Hank (GA), Meeks (NY): Exempts from 

the bill any settlement pertaining to discrimination based on race, 

religion, national origin, or any other protected category. (10 minutes) 

2. Cicilline (RI): Exempts settlement agreements that strengthen 

the personal privacy of Americans from the blanket prohibition in 

this legislation. (10 minutes) 

3. Jackson Lee (TX): Exempts settlement agreements that pertain to providing restitution for a State. (10 minutes) 

4. Jackson Lee (TX): Exempts settlement agreements that resolves a civil action or potential civil action in relation to sexual 

harassment, violence, or discrimination in the work place. (10 minutes) 

5. Gosar (AZ): Caps settlement payments for attorney fees provided in relation to environmental cases at $125 per hour. (10 minutes) 

6. Price, Tom (GA): Requires the head of each Federal agency to 

electronically submit a report to the Congressional Budget Office 

on each settlement agreement entered into pursuant to this bill. 

(10 minutes) 

7. Price, Tom (GA): Requires each agency’s Inspector General to 

report annually to the House and Senate Committees on the Budget, the Judiciary, and Appropriations on any settlement agreement 


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entered into by an during the previous year that are in violation 

of section 2. (10 minutes) 

TEXT OF AMENDMENTS MADE IN ORDER

1. AN AMENDMENT TO BE OFFERED BY REPRESENTATIVE CONYERS

JR. OF MICHIGAN OR HIS DESIGNEE, DEBATABLE FOR 10 MINUTES

Page 3, line 11, insert after ‘‘settlement agreement’’ the following: ‘‘(other than an excepted settlement agreement)’’. 

Page 4, strike line 1, and insert the following: 

(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this Act: 

(1) The term ‘‘excepted settlement agreement’’ means a settlement agreement that resolves a civil action or potential civil 

action in relation to discrimination based on race, religion, national origin, or any other protected category. 

(2) The term ‘‘settlement agreement’’ 

2. AN AMENDMENT TO BE OFFERED BY REPRESENTATIVE CICILLINE

OF RHODE ISLAND OR HIS DESIGNEE, DEBATABLE FOR 10 MINUTES

Page 3, line 11, insert after ‘‘settlement agreement’’ the following: ‘‘(other than an excepted settlement agreement)’’. 

Page 4, strike line 1, and insert the following: 

(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this Act: 

(1) The term ‘‘excepted settlement agreement’’ means a settlement agreement that pertains to the protection of the privacy of Americans. 

(2) The term ‘‘settlement agreement’’ 

3. AN AMENDMENT TO BE OFFERED BY REPRESENTATIVE JACKSON

LEE OF TEXAS OR HER DESIGNEE, DEBATABLE FOR 10 MINUTES

Page 3, line 11, insert after ‘‘settlement agreement’’ the following: ‘‘(other than an excepted settlement agreement)’’. 

Page 4, strike line 1, and insert the following: 

(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this Act: 

(1) The term ‘‘excepted settlement agreement’’ means a settlement agreement that pertains to providing restitution for a 

State. 

(2) The term ‘‘settlement agreement’’ 

4. AN AMENDMENT TO BE OFFERED BY REPRESENTATIVE JACKSON

LEE OF TEXAS OR HER DESIGNEE, DEBATABLE FOR 10 MINUTES

Page 3, line 11, insert after ‘‘settlement agreement’’ the following: ‘‘(other than an excepted settlement agreement)’’. 

Page 4, strike line 1, and insert the following: 

(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this Act: 

(1) The term ‘‘excepted settlement agreement’’ means a settlement agreement that resolves a civil action or potential civil 

action in relation to sexual harassment, violence, or discrimination in the workplace. 

(2) The term ‘‘settlement agreement’’ 


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5. AN AMENDMENT TO BE OFFERED BY REPRESENTATIVE GOSAR OF

ARIZONA OR HIS DESIGNEE, DEBATABLE FOR 10 MINUTES

Add at the end of the bill the following: 

(e) SPECIAL RULE FOR ATTORNEY FEES IN ENVIRONMENTAL

CASES.—In the case of a settlement agreement which is permissible 

under subsection (a), and which directs or provides for payment for 

services rendered in connection with a case relating to the environment, the settlement agreement may not provide for payment of attorney fees in excess of $125 per hour. 

6. AN AMENDMENT TO BE OFFERED BY REPRESENTATIVE PRICE OF

GEORGIA OR HIS DESIGNEE, DEBATABLE FOR 10 MINUTES

Add at the end of the bill the following: 

(e) REPORTS ON SETTLEMENT AGREEMENTS.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Beginning at the end of the first fiscal year 

that begins after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the head of each Federal agency shall submit 

electronically to the Congressional Budget Office a report on 

each settlement agreement entered into by that agency during 

that fiscal year that directs or provides for a payment to a person or entity other than the United States that provides restitution for or otherwise directly remedies actual harm (including to the environment) directly and proximately caused by the 

party making the payment, or constitutes payment for services 

rendered in connection with the case, including the parties to 

each settlement agreement, the source of the settlement funds, 

and where and how such funds were and will be distributed. 

(2) PROHIBITION ON ADDITIONAL FUNDING.—No additional 

funds are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection. 

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

the date that is 7 years after the date of the enactment of this 

Act. 

7. AN AMENDMENT TO BE OFFERED BY REPRESENTATIVE PRICE OF

GEORGIA OR HIS DESIGNEE, DEBATABLE FOR 10 MINUTES

Add at the end of the bill the following: 

(e) ANNUAL AUDIT REQUIREMENT.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Beginning at the end of the first fiscal year 

that begins after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Inspector General of each Federal agency 

shall submit a report to the Committees on the Judiciary, on 

the Budget and on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate, on any settlement agreement entered 

into in violation of this section by that agency. 

(2) PROHIBITION ON ADDITIONAL FUNDING.—No additional 

funds are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection. 

Æ 


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