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Union Calendar No. 43 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 732 

[Report No. 115–72] 

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 

JANUARY 30, 2017 

Mr. GOODLATTE (for himself, Mr. PETERSON, Mr. SENSENBRENNER, Mr. 

SMITH of Texas, Mr. CHABOT, Mr. ISSA, Mr. KING of Iowa, Mr. FRANKS

of Arizona, Mr. GOHMERT, Mr. JORDAN, Mr. POE of Texas, Mr. 

CHAFFETZ, Mr. MARINO, Mr. GOWDY, Mr. LABRADOR, Mr. 

FARENTHOLD, Mr. COLLINS of Georgia, Mr. DESANTIS, Mr. BUCK, Mr. 

RATCLIFFE, Mr. TROTT, Mr. BISHOP of Michigan, Mrs. ROBY, Mr. 

GAETZ, Mr. BIGGS, Mrs. MIMI WALTERS of California, and Mr. GRIFFITH) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 

on the Judiciary 

MARCH 30, 2017 

Additional sponsors: Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana, Mr. ABRAHAM, Mr. GOSAR, 

Mr. DUFFY, Mr. GROTHMAN, Mr. YOUNG of Iowa, Mr. ALLEN, and Mr. 

FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida 

MARCH 30, 2017 

Reported with amendments, committed to the Committee of the Whole House 

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

[Insert the part printed in italic] 


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•HR 732 RH

A BILL 

To limit donations made pursuant to settlement agreements 

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

purposes. 


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•HR 732 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 2017’’. 

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 of10 ficial or agent of the Government may not enter into or 

11 enforce any settlement agreement on behalf of the United 

12 States, directing or providing for a payment or loan to 

13 any person or entity other than the United States, other 

14 than a payment or loan that provides restitution for or 

15 otherwise directly remedies actual harm (including to the 

16 environment) directly and proximately caused by the party 

17 making the payment or loan, or constitutes payment for 

18 services rendered in connection with the case or a payment 

19 pursuant to section 3663 of title 18, United States Code. 

20 (b) PENALTY.—Any official or agent of the Govern21 ment who violates subsection (a), shall be subject to the 

22 same penalties that would apply in the case of a violation 

23 of section 3302 of title 31, United States Code. 


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1 (c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Subsections (a) and (b) 

2 apply only in the case of a settlement agreement concluded 

3 on or after the date of enactment of this Act. 

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

5 means a settlement agreement resolving a civil action or 

6 potential civil action, a plea agreement, a deferred pros7 ecution agreement, or a non-prosecution agreement. 

8 (e) REPORTS ON SETTLEMENT AGREEMENTS.— 

9 (1) IN GENERAL.—Beginning at the end of the 

10 first fiscal year that begins after the date of the en11 actment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the 

12 head of each Federal agency shall submit electroni13 cally to the Congressional Budget Office a report on 

14 each settlement agreement entered into by that 

15 agency during that fiscal year that directs or pro16 vides for a payment or loan to a person or entity 

17 other than the United States that provides restitu18 tion for or otherwise directly remedies actual harm 

19 (including to the environment) directly and proxi20 mately caused by the party making the payment or 

21 loan, or constitutes payment for services rendered in 

22 connection with the case, including the parties to 

23 each settlement agreement, the source of the settle24 ment funds, and where and how such funds were 

25 and will be distributed. 


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1 (2) PROHIBITION ON ADDITIONAL FUNDING.— 

2 No additional funds are authorized to be appro3 priated to carry out this subsection. 

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

5 effective on the date that is 7 years after the date 

6 of the enactment of this Act. 

7 (f) ANNUAL AUDIT REQUIREMENT.— 

8 (1) IN GENERAL.—Beginning at the end of the 

9 first fiscal year that begins after the date of the en10 actment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the In11 spector General of each Federal agency shall submit 

12 a report to the Committees on the Judiciary, on the 

13 Budget and on Appropriations of the House of Rep14 resentatives and the Senate, on any settlement 

15 agreement entered into in violation of this section by 

16 that agency. 

17 (2) PROHIBITION ON ADDITIONAL FUNDING.— 

18 No additional funds are authorized to be appro19 priated to carry out this subsection. 


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Union Calendar No. 43 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 732 

[Report No. 115–72] 

A BILL 

To limit donations made pursuant to settlement 

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

MARCH 30, 2017 

Reported with amendments, committed to the Committee 

dered to be printed of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and orVerDate Sep 11 2014 21:15 Mar 30, 2017 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6651 Sfmt 6651 E:\BILLS\H732.RH H732

sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS