Stop Settlement Slush Funds Act of 2023

Bill: 118-hr-788
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Gooden, Lance [R-TX-5]
Introduced: 2023-02-02
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Civil actions and liability

Congressional oversight

Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation

Government ethics and transparency, public corruption

Government lending and loan guarantees

Government liability

Government studies and investigations

Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Latest action: action_date: 2024-01-16
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Summaries:
action_date: 2023-02-02
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Stop Settlement Slush Funds Act of 2023 </b></p> <p>This bill prohibits the federal government from entering into or enforcing a settlement agreement on behalf of the United States that provides for a payment to any person or entity other than the United States. The bill provides exceptions to allow payments that (1) remedy actual harm (including to the environment) caused by the party making the payment, or (2) constitute a payment for services rendered in connection with the case.</p> <p>Government officials or agents who violate this prohibition may be removed from office or required to forfeit to the government any money they hold for such purposes to which they may otherwise be entitled.</p> <p>Agencies must report annually for seven years to the Congressional Budget Office about the parties, funding sources, and distribution of funds for their settlement agreements permitted by the exceptions in this bill. The Office of Inspector General for each agency must also report annually on any settlement agreements that violate the bill's requirements.</p>

tv_txt: IB Union Calendar No. 278 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 788 [Report No. 118–339] 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 A BILL To limit donations made pursuant to settlement agreements to which the United States is a party, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Stop Settlement Slush Funds Act of 2023 . 2. Limitation on donations made pursuant to settlement agreements to which the united states is a party (a) Limitation on required donations An official 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 payment 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. (b) Penalty Any official or agent of the Government 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 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 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 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 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 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 enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Inspector 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 Representatives. (2) Prohibition on additional funding No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection.

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

tv_txt: IIB 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 788 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES January 16, 2024 Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary AN ACT To limit donations made pursuant to settlement agreements to which the United States is a party, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Stop Settlement Slush Funds Act of 2023 . 2. Limitation on donations made pursuant to settlement agreements to which the united states is a party (a) Limitation on required donations An official 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 payment 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. (b) Penalty Any official or agent of the Government 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 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 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 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 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 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 enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Inspector General of each Federal agency shall submit, and make available on a publicly accessible website, 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 Representatives. (2) Prohibition on additional funding No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection.

Passed the House of Representatives January 11, 2024. Kevin F. McCumber, Clerk.

tv_txt: I 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 788 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN ACT To limit donations made pursuant to settlement agreements to which the United States is a party, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Stop Settlement Slush Funds Act of 2023 . 2. Limitation on donations made pursuant to settlement agreements to which the united states is a party (a) Limitation on required donations An official 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 payment 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. (b) Penalty Any official or agent of the Government 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 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 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 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 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 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 enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Inspector General of each Federal agency shall submit, and make available on a publicly accessible website, 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 Representatives. (2) Prohibition on additional funding No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection.

Passed the House of Representatives January 11, 2024. Cheryl L. Johnson, Clerk.

tv_txt: I 118th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 788 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 A BILL To limit donations made pursuant to settlement agreements to which the United States is a party, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Stop Settlement Slush Funds Act of 2023 . 2. Limitation on donations made pursuant to settlement agreements to which the united states is a party (a) Limitation on required donations An official 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 payment 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. (b) Penalty Any official or agent of the Government 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 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 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 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 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 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 enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Inspector 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 Representatives. (2) Prohibition on additional funding No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection.