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Bill115th CongressFiled Jan 30, 2017Law
H.R. 732

Stop Settlement Slush Funds Act of 2017

Bill journey · stage 2 of 5

Under committee review

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What it doesSummary passed house amended (Oct 24, 2017)

Stop Settlement Slush Funds Act of 2017

(Sec. 2) This bill prohibits government officials from entering into or enforcing a settlement agreement on behalf of the United States (resolving a civil action, a plea agreement, a deferred prosecution agreement, or a nonprosecution agreement) that provides for a payment or a loan to any person or entity other than the United States. The bill provides exceptions to allow payments or loans that: (1) remedy actual harm (including to the environment) caused by the party making the payment or loan and suffered by the payee, or (2) constitute a payment for services rendered in connection with the case or a payment that a court may order for restitution to victims in certain criminal cases or other persons in plea agreements.

Amounts remaining after all claims have been satisfied must be repaid proportionally to each party who contributed to the original payment.

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 happenedOct 25, 2017

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
34 cosponsors1 D33 R
Read on Congress.gov
34cosponsors2committees32actions6amendments3related bills7subjects
  1. Oct 25, 2017IntroReferral

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

    Judiciary Committee
  2. Oct 24, 2017FloorH38310

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

  3. Oct 24, 2017FloorH37100

    On passage Passed by recorded vote: 238 - 183 (Roll no. 580). (text: CR H8118)

  4. Oct 24, 2017Floor8000

    Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 238 - 183 (Roll no. 580).(text: CR H8118)

  5. Oct 24, 2017FloorH34400

    The House adopted the amendment as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.

  6. Oct 24, 2017FloorH35000

    The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

  7. Oct 24, 2017FloorH32600

    The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 732.

  8. Oct 24, 2017FloorH8D000

    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 noes had prevailed. Mr. Conyers demanded a recorded vote, and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

  9. Oct 24, 2017FloorH8D000

    DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 577, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Conyers amendment No. 6.

  10. Oct 24, 2017FloorH8D000

    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 noes had prevailed. Mr. Cicilline demanded a recorded vote, and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

  11. Oct 24, 2017FloorH8D000

    DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 577, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Cicilline amendment No. 5.

  12. Oct 24, 2017FloorH8D000

    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.

  13. Oct 24, 2017FloorH8D000

    DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 577, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Jackson Lee amendment No. 4.

  14. Oct 24, 2017FloorH8D000

    POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Johnson (GA) amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Johnson (LA) 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. Oct 24, 2017FloorH8D000

    DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 577, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Johnson (GA) amendment No. 3.

  16. Oct 24, 2017FloorH8D000

    POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Cohen amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Johnson (LA) 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. Oct 24, 2017FloorH8D000

    DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 577, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Cohen amendment No. 2.

  18. Oct 24, 2017FloorH8D000

    DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 577, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Goodlatte amendment No. 1.

  19. Oct 24, 2017FloorH8D000

    GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 732.

  20. Oct 24, 2017FloorH32400

    The Speaker designated the Honorable Frank D. Lucas to act as Chairman of the Committee.

  21. Oct 24, 2017FloorH32020

    House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 577 and Rule XVIII.

  22. Oct 24, 2017FloorH8D000

    Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 469 and H.R. 732. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order. Rule provides for one hour of general debate for H.R. 469. The rule also provides for consideration of amendments printed in part A of the report. The rule provides for one hour of general debate for H.R. 732. The rule provides for consideration of amendments printe in part B of the report.

  23. Oct 24, 2017FloorH30000

    Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 577. (consideration: CR H8107-8129)

  24. Oct 24, 2017FloorH1L220

    Rule H. Res. 577 passed House.

  25. Oct 23, 2017FloorH1L210

    Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 577 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 469 and H.R. 732. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order. Rule provides for one hour of general debate for H.R. 469. The rule also provides for consideration of amendments printed in part A of the report. The rule provides for one hour of general debate for H.R. 732. The rule provides for consideration of amendments printe in part B of the report.

  26. Mar 30, 2017CalendarsH12410

    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 43.

  27. Mar 30, 2017CommitteeH12200

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 115-72.

    Judiciary Committee
  28. Mar 30, 2017Committee5000

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 115-72.

    Judiciary Committee
  29. Jan 31, 2017Committee

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

    Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust Subcommittee
  30. Jan 30, 2017IntroReferralH11100

    Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

    Judiciary Committee
  31. Jan 30, 2017IntroReferralIntro-H

    Introduced in House

  32. Jan 30, 2017IntroReferral1000

    Introduced in House

Passed House amendedOct 24, 201736

Stop Settlement Slush Funds Act of 2017

(Sec. 2) This bill prohibits government officials from entering into or enforcing a settlement agreement on behalf of the United States (resolving a civil action, a plea agreement, a deferred prosecution agreement, or a nonprosecution agreement) that provides for a payment or a loan to any person or entity other than the United States. The bill provides exceptions to allow payments or loans that: (1) remedy actual harm (including to the environment) caused by the party making the payment or loan and suffered by the payee, or (2) constitute a payment for services rendered in connection with the case or a payment that a court may order for restitution to victims in certain criminal cases or other persons in plea agreements.

Amounts remaining after all claims have been satisfied must be repaid proportionally to each party who contributed to the original payment.

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)Mar 30, 201717

Stop Settlement Slush Funds Act of 2017

(Sec. 2) This bill prohibits government officials from entering into or enforcing a settlement agreement on behalf of the United States (resolving a civil action, a plea agreement, a deferred prosecution agreement, or a nonprosecution agreement) that provides for a payment or a loan to any person or entity other than the United States. The bill provides exceptions to allow payments or loans that: (1) remedy actual harm (including to the environment) caused by the party making the payment or loan, or (2) constitute a payment for services rendered in connection with the case or a payment that a court may order for restitution to victims in certain criminal cases or other persons in plea agreements.

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.

Introduced in HouseJan 30, 2017

Stop Settlement Slush Funds Act of 2017

This bill prohibits government officials from entering into or enforcing a settlement agreement on behalf of the United States (resolving a civil action, a plea agreement, a deferred prosecution agreement, or a nonprosecution agreement) 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 or a payment that a court may order for restitution to victims in certain criminal cases or other persons in plea agreements.

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.

Stop Settlement Slush Funds Act of 2017 — Informed