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Bill114th CongressFiled Apr 26, 2016Law
H.R. 5063

Stop Settlement Slush Funds Act of 2016

Bill journey · stage 2 of 5

Under committee review

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What it doesSummary passed house amended (Sep 7, 2016)

Stop Settlement Slush Funds Act of 2016

(Sec. 2) This bill prohibits government officials from entering into or enforcing a settlement agreement resolving a civil action 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 remedy actual harm (including to the environment) caused by the party making the payment or that constitute payment for services rendered in connection with the case.

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.

Federal 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.

Agency inspectors general must report annually to Congress about any of their agency's settlement agreements that violate this bill.

What just happenedSep 8, 2016

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Who’s behind it

Rep. Goodlatte, Bob [R-VA-6](R-VA)Sponsor
32 cosponsors1 D31 R
Read on Congress.gov
32cosponsors2committees38actions7amendments2related bills6subjects
  1. Sep 8, 2016IntroReferral

    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

    Judiciary Committee
  2. Sep 7, 2016FloorH38310

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  3. Sep 7, 2016FloorH37100

    On passage Passed by recorded vote: 241 - 174 (Roll no. 488).

  4. Sep 7, 2016Floor8000

    Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 241 - 174 (Roll no. 488).

  5. Sep 7, 2016FloorH36110

    On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 181 - 234 (Roll no. 487).

    Judiciary Committee
  6. Sep 7, 2016FloorH8A000

    The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection. (consideration: CR H5135)

  7. Sep 7, 2016FloorH8D000

    Floor summary: DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Meng motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to report the same back to the House forthwith with an amendment to add an exemption to the underlying bill for settlement agreements that reduce the cost of life-saving medical devices, such as EpiPens, through the enforcement of antitrust laws.

  8. Sep 7, 2016FloorH36100

    Ms. Meng moved to recommit with instructions to the Committee on the Judiciary. (consideration: CR H5134-5135; text: CR H5134)

    Judiciary Committee
  9. Sep 7, 2016FloorH34400

    The House adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H5124-5125)

  10. Sep 7, 2016FloorH35000

    The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule. (consideration: CR H5134)

  11. Sep 7, 2016FloorH32600

    The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 5063.

  12. Sep 7, 2016FloorH8D000

    DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 843, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Tom Price (GA) amendment.

  13. Sep 7, 2016FloorH8D000

    DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 843, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Tom Price (GA) amendment.

  14. Sep 7, 2016FloorH8D000

    POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Gosar amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Gosar demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

  15. Sep 7, 2016FloorH8D000

    DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 843, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Gosar amendment.

  16. Sep 7, 2016FloorH8D000

    POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Jackson Lee amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Ms. Jackson Lee demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

  17. Sep 7, 2016FloorH8D000

    DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 843, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Jackson Lee amendment.

  18. Sep 7, 2016FloorH8D000

    DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 843, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Jackson Lee amendment.

  19. Sep 7, 2016FloorH8D000

    POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Cicilline amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Goodlatte demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

  20. Sep 7, 2016FloorH8D000

    DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 843, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Cicilline amendment.

  21. Sep 7, 2016FloorH8D000

    POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Conyers amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Goodlatte demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

  22. Sep 7, 2016FloorH8D000

    DEBATE - Purusant to the provisions of H.Res. 843, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Conyers amendment.

  23. Sep 7, 2016FloorH8D000

    GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 5063.

  24. Sep 7, 2016FloorH32400

    The Speaker designated the Honorable Chris Stewart to act as Chairman of the Committee.

  25. Sep 7, 2016FloorH32020

    House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 843 and Rule XVIII.

  26. Sep 7, 2016FloorH8D000

    Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 5063 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order.

  27. Sep 7, 2016FloorH30000

    Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 843. (consideration: CR H5119-5136)

  28. Sep 7, 2016FloorH1L220

    Rule H. Res. 843 passed House.

  29. Sep 6, 2016FloorH1L210

    Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 843 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 5063 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order.

  30. Jul 18, 2016CalendarsH12410

    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 538.

  31. Jul 18, 2016CommitteeH12200

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 114-694.

    Judiciary Committee
  32. Jul 18, 2016Committee5000

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 114-694.

    Judiciary Committee
  33. May 11, 2016Committee

    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 16 - 8.

    Judiciary Committee
  34. May 11, 2016Committee

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Judiciary Committee
  35. Apr 28, 2016Committee

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial And Antitrust Law.

    Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust Subcommittee
  36. Apr 26, 2016IntroReferralH11100

    Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

    Judiciary Committee
  37. Apr 26, 2016IntroReferralIntro-H

    Introduced in House

  38. Apr 26, 2016IntroReferral1000

    Introduced in House

Passed House amendedSep 7, 201636

Stop Settlement Slush Funds Act of 2016

(Sec. 2) This bill prohibits government officials from entering into or enforcing a settlement agreement resolving a civil action 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 remedy actual harm (including to the environment) caused by the party making the payment or that constitute payment for services rendered in connection with the case.

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.

Federal 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.

Agency inspectors general must report annually to Congress about any of their agency's settlement agreements that violate this bill.

Reported to House with amendment(s)Jul 18, 201617

Stop Settlement Slush Funds Act of 2016

(Sec. 2) This bill prohibits government officials from entering into or enforcing a settlement agreement resolving a civil action 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 remedy actual harm (including to the environment) caused by the party making the payment or that constitute payment for services rendered in connection with the case.

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.

Introduced in HouseApr 26, 2016

Stop Settlement Slush Funds Act of 2016

This bill prohibits government officials from entering into a settlement agreement resolving a civil action on behalf of the United States, or from enforcing such a settlement agreement, if that agreement requires a donation to be made to any person by any party (other than the United States) to such agreement.

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.

The term "donation" excludes a payment by a party to provide restitution for or otherwise remedy the actual harm caused by the alleged conduct that is the basis for the settlement agreement.

Stop Settlement Slush Funds Act of 2016 — Informed