Bipartisan Transparency for American Taxpayers Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8955
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Government Operations and Politics
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-21: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-10T08:05:55Z
AI-Generated Summary
Bipartisan Transparency for American Taxpayers Act (H.R. 8955)
Purpose of the Legislation
- The bill aims to block the use of any federal money to pay claims submitted to the Anti-Weaponization Fund.
- It responds directly to the Department of Justice's creation of this fund on May 18, 2026.
Key Provisions Outlined
- Prohibition on federal funds: No federal money, including amounts from the Judgment Fund under section 1304 of title 31, United States Code, may be used for claims to the Anti-Weaponization Fund.
- Broad application: The restriction applies "notwithstanding any other provision of law," covering all sources of federal appropriations.
- Short title: The Act is named the "Bipartisan Transparency for American Taxpayers Act."
Significant Changes to Existing Law Introduced
- This measure adds a new, targeted restriction on payments from the Judgment Fund and other federal accounts.
- It prevents the Department of Justice from drawing on established federal payment mechanisms for claims tied to the newly created Anti-Weaponization Fund.
Potential Impacts
- On government agencies: Limits the Department of Justice's ability to settle or pay claims through the Anti-Weaponization Fund using taxpayer resources.
- On citizens: Prevents federal spending on claims submitted to this fund, which could affect individuals or entities seeking compensation through it.
- On budget processes: Requires any future payments for such claims to come from non-federal sources or new legislative authorization.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- The Department of Justice, as the agency that established the fund.
- Potential claimants seeking payments from the Anti-Weaponization Fund.
- U.S. taxpayers, whose funds are explicitly protected from use for these claims.
- Members of Congress, who introduced and would oversee the restriction.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Raises questions about congressional control over federal spending and the use of the Judgment Fund for specific purposes.
- The bipartisan sponsorship (by Representatives Fitzpatrick and Suozzi) highlights cross-party agreement on restricting funds for this particular program.
- The timing, with the fund created just days before the bill's introduction, suggests an immediate legislative response to an administrative action.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]
Cosponsors (14)
Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3], Rep. Boyle, Brendan F. [D-PA-2], Rep. Goodlander, Maggie [D-NH-2], Rep. Bynum, Janelle S. [D-OR-5], Rep. Conaway, Herbert C. [D-NJ-3], Rep. Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7], Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19], Rep. Horsford, Steven [D-NV-4], Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10], Rep. Riley, Josh [D-NY-19], Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3], Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2], Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1], Rep. Crow, Jason [D-CO-6]
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-21: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2026-05-21: Introduced in House
- 2026-05-21: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Bipartisan Transparency for American Taxpayers Act — issued 2026-05-21 — PDF (2 pages)