- February 7, 2017
Senator Lankford Introduces Stop Settlement Slush Fund Act
WASHINGTON, DC – Senator James Lankford (R-OK), today introduced the Stop Settlement Slush Fund Act of 2017. The bill would prohibit officials or agents of the government from entering into or enforcing any settlement agreement on behalf of the US that provides payment in the form of donations to third-parties. The bill still allows payments for environmental damages and still allows losing parties to pay restitution for harm caused by the party. Lankford introduced the bill during the 114th Congress.
“The responsibility of the power of the purse falls solely on Congress, and we should have authority to direct the funding of settlement agreements, not the executive branch’s special interest,” said Lankford. “The Stop Settlement Slush Fund Act is one step in the reform process to return spending power back to the hands of Congress. This bill will provide more transparency to the American people and stop the Department of Justice from circumventing the transparent appropriations process in Congress. The Senate should consider this bill promptly to stop the enforcement of penalty money paid to third parties of their choice.”
Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Jeff Flake (R-AZ), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Ron Johnson (R-WI), and Mike Lee (R-UT) are original cosponsors of the bill. This legislation has also been introduced in the House by Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA).
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