IB 
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. NOR-
MAN, 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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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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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Stop Settlement Slush 
Funds Act of 2023’’. 
SEC. 2. LIMITATION ON DONATIONS MADE PURSUANT TO 
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENTS TO WHICH THE 
UNITED STATES IS A PARTY. 
(a) LIMITATION ON REQUIRED DONATIONS.—An offi-
cial or agent of the Government may not enter into or en-
force any settlement agreement on behalf of the United 
States directing or providing for a payment to any person 
or entity other than the United States, other than a pay-
ment that provides restitution for or otherwise directly rem-
edies 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. 
(b) PENALTY.—Any official or agent of the Govern-
ment who violates subsection (a) shall be subject to the same 
penalties that would apply in the case of a violation of sec-
tion 3302 of title 31, United States Code. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Subsections (a) and (b) apply 
only in the case of a settlement agreement entered on or 
after the date of enactment of this Act. 
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(d) DEFINITION.—The term ‘‘settlement agreement’’ 
means a settlement agreement resolving a civil action or 
potential civil action. 
(e) REPORTS ON SETTLEMENT AGREEMENTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than at the end of 
the first fiscal year that begins after the date of enact-
ment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the head of 
each Federal agency shall submit electronically to the 
Congressional Budget Office a report on each settle-
ment 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 is providing restitution for or otherwise directly 
remedies actual harm (including to the environment) 
directly and proximately caused by the party making 
the payment, or that constitutes payment for services 
rendered in connection with the case, which shall in-
clude 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. 
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(3) SUNSET.—This subsection shall cease to be 
effective on the date that is 7 years after the date of 
enactment of this Act. 
(f) ANNUAL AUDIT REQUIREMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than at the end of 
the first fiscal year that begins after the date of enact-
ment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Inspec-
tor General of each Federal agency shall submit a re-
port on any settlement agreement entered into in vio-
lation of this section by that agency to— 
(A) the Committee on the Judiciary, the 
Committee on the Budget, and the Committee on 
Appropriations of the Senate; and 
(B) the Committee on the Judiciary, the 
Committee on the Budget, and the Committee on 
Appropriations of the House of Representatives. 
(2) PROHIBITION ON ADDITIONAL FUNDING.—No 
additional funds are authorized to be appropriated to 
carry out this subsection. 
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Union Calendar No. 278 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 788 
[Report No. 118–339] 
A BILL 
To limit donations made pursuant to settlement 
agreements to which the United States is a 
party, and for other purposes. 
JANUARY 9, 2024 
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Com-
mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, 
and ordered to be printed 
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