H.R. 5063: Stop Settlement Slush Funds Act of 2016

114th Congress · introduced 2016-04-26 · Law · Latest: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2016-04-26 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Goodlatte, Bob [R-VA-6] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: 6 recorded votes in our records. Latest: House roll call 483 (2016): On Agreeing to the Amendment, HR5063 (2016-09-07), Failed. See all
Where it stands now: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Stop Settlement Slush Funds Act of 2016

Plain summary

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.

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Stop Settlement Slush Funds Act of 2016

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended)

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The strongest published arguments

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Goodlatte, Bob [R-VA-6] · 32 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 5063, Stop Settlement Slush Funds Act of 2016 (2016-07-13)

Cosponsors on this site

Darrell Issa (R-CA), Jim Jordan (R-OH), Glenn Grothman (R-WI)

Recorded votes

House roll call 483 (2016): On Agreeing to the Amendment, HR5063 (2016-09-07): Failed
House roll call 484 (2016): On Agreeing to the Amendment, HR5063 (2016-09-07): Failed
House roll call 485 (2016): On Agreeing to the Amendment, HR5063 (2016-09-07): Failed
House roll call 486 (2016): On Agreeing to the Amendment, HR5063 (2016-09-07): Failed
House roll call 487 (2016): On Motion to Recommit with Instructions, HR5063 (2016-09-07): Failed
House roll call 488 (2016): On Passage, HR5063 (2016-09-07): Passed

Words on this page, explained (2)

Bill: A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
CBO cost estimate: The Congressional Budget Office's estimate of how a federal bill would change government spending and revenue. CBO is nonpartisan.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-114hr5063.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/114/hr>

Record fed-us-cong114-hr5063 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong114 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong114