United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
October 23, 2017
Dear Members of the United States House of Representatives,
We urge you to oppose H.R. 732, the so-called Stop Settlement Slush Funds Act of 2017. The
bill prohibits settlement agreements where the United States is a party from including certain
“donations” to non-federal actors, primarily non-profits, educational, and community-based
organizations.
Under existing laws, settlements from federal enforcement actions can include payments to third
parties to advance programs that assist with recovery, benefits, and relief for communities
harmed by lawbreakers, to the extent such payments further the objectives of the enforcement
action. H.R. 732 would cut off any payments to third parties other than individualized restitution
and other forms of direct payment for “actual harm.” That restriction would handcuff federal
enforcement officials by limiting the ability of federal enforcement officials to negotiate real
relief for harms caused to the public by illegal conduct that is the subject of federal enforcement
actions.
This bill would be a gift to lawbreakers at the expense of families and communities suffering
from injuries that cannot be addressed by direct restitution because the bill would prevent federal
law enforcement agencies from negotiating forms of relief … Read More
