I 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 788 
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 
A BILL 
To limit donations made pursuant to settlement agreements 
to which the United States is a party, and for other 
purposes. 
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’’. 
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SEC. 2. LIMITATION ON DONATIONS MADE PURSUANT TO 
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENTS TO WHICH THE 
UNITED STATES IS A PARTY. 
(a) LIMITATION ON REQUIRED DONATIONS.—An of-
ficial or agent of the Government may not enter into or 
enforce 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 
remedies actual harm (including to the environment) di-
rectly 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 section 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. 
(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 en-
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actment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the 
head of each Federal agency shall submit electroni-
cally to the Congressional Budget Office a report on 
each settlement agreement entered into by that 
agency during that fiscal year that directs or pro-
vides 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 con-
stitutes payment for services rendered in connection 
with the case, which shall include 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 appro-
priated 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 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 en-
actment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the In-
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spector General of each Federal agency shall submit 
a report on any settlement agreement entered into 
in violation 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 Representa-
tives. 
(2) PROHIBITION ON ADDITIONAL FUNDING.— 
No additional funds are authorized to be appro-
priated to carry out this subsection. 
Æ 
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