Don't Settle for Corruption Act

Bill Number

H.R. 9355

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 2

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2026-06-18: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Last Updated

2026-07-07T05:38:23Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The legislation amends title 28 of the United States Code to change how certain compromise settlements involving the federal government are reviewed and paid. Its main goal is to require congressional approval before paying settlements related to the President or a former President.

Key Provisions

• Payment Process for Judgments: Final judgments against the United States from district courts, the Court of International Trade, or state or foreign courts are paid by the Secretary of the Treasury, with certification from the Attorney General in some cases.
• Compromise Settlements: Settlements of claims against the United States are generally handled similarly to judgments, using available funds.
• Congressional Review for Covered Settlements: For any compromise settlement involving the President or a former President, the Attorney General must submit a detailed report with an identification number to both houses of Congress on the same day.
• Approval Requirement: Such a settlement is not considered approved unless Congress passes a joint resolution within 60 days of receiving the report. The resolution must specifically approve the settlement by number and date.
• Definition of Covered Settlement: This applies only to settlements for defending imminent litigation or suits by the President or former President against the United States, its agencies, or officials.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• The bill replaces the current version of section 2414 with new rules that add a mandatory 60-day congressional approval step for settlements involving the President or former President.
• It introduces a formal reporting and joint resolution process, which did not exist in the prior law for these specific settlements.
• The Attorney General must now certify and report these settlements to Congress before payment can occur.

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: The Department of Justice and the Attorney General would face additional reporting duties, while the Secretary of the Treasury handles payments only after congressional action.
• Citizens: Taxpayers may see greater oversight on how public funds are used for presidential settlements, potentially affecting the speed of resolutions.
• International Relations: Settlements involving foreign courts could be delayed if they qualify as covered settlements, though the bill focuses mainly on domestic executive branch cases.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• The President and former Presidents, whose settlements now require congressional approval.
• The Attorney General and Department of Justice, responsible for submitting reports.
• Congress, which gains authority to approve or block these settlements via joint resolution.
• The Secretary of the Treasury, who manages actual payments.
• Federal agencies and officials involved in litigation against the United States.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• The changes add a legislative check on executive branch settlements, requiring explicit congressional consent within a set timeframe.
• This could affect the separation of powers by involving Congress in decisions previously handled by the Attorney General.
• The bill creates a specific definition and process only for presidential settlements, distinguishing them from other government compromises.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1]

Cosponsors (15)

Rep. Thompson, Mike [D-CA-4], Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28], Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7], Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19], Rep. Gomez, Jimmy [D-CA-34], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Jacobs, Sara [D-CA-51], Rep. Khanna, Ro [D-CA-17], Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2], Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12], Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37], Rep. Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1], Rep. Liccardo, Sam T. [D-CA-16], Rep. Cisneros, Gilbert Ray [D-CA-31], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7]

Recent Actions

• 2026-06-18: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
• 2026-06-18: Introduced in House
• 2026-06-18: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Don't Settle for Corruption Act — issued 2026-06-18 — PDF (4 pages)