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H.R. 9355House119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

Don't Settle for Corruption Act

Sponsored by John B. LarsonRep. John B. Larson (D-CT)
Introduced June 18, 2026

AI-Generated Summary

Updated July 7, 2026 at 5:41 AM UTC

The Don't Settle for Corruption Act changes the way the federal government can pay certain compromise settlements that arise from lawsuits against the United States. It adds new steps that require the Attorney General to certify settlements, report them to both houses of Congress the same day, and obtain a joint congressional resolution within 60 days before any payment can be made. The rule mainly affects settlements involving the President or a former President and other claims against the United States, its agencies, or officials.

Key Provisions

  • Amends 28 U.S.C. §2414 to require the Attorney General to certify that no appeal will be taken before a settlement can be paid.
  • Requires the Attorney General to send a report with an identification number to both chambers of Congress on the same day a covered settlement is proposed.
  • Makes a settlement “approved” only after Congress passes a joint resolution within 60 days of receiving the report.
  • Defines a “covered settlement” as any compromise settlement for defending imminent litigation or a suit by the President or former President against the United States, its agencies, or officials.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action
HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

June 18, 2026

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

June 18, 2026

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

June 18, 2026

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued June 18, 2026

I

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 9355

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 18, 2026

Mr. Larson of Connecticut (for himself, Mr. Thompson of California, Ms. Chu, Mr. Davis of Illinois, Mr. Panetta, Mr. Gomez, Ms. Norton, Ms. Jacobs, Mr. Khanna, Mr. Pocan, Mrs. Watson Coleman, Ms. Kamlager-Dove, Mr. Jackson of Illinois, Mr. Liccardo, Mr. Cisneros, and Mr. Carson) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL

To amend title 28, United States Code, to reform the process for payment of certain compromise settlements, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Don't Settle for Corruption Act.

2.

Limitation on certain payments

Section 2414 of title 28, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:

2414.

Payment of judgments and compromise settlements

(a)

Except as provided by chapter 71 of title 41, payment of final judgments rendered by a district court or the Court of International Trade against the United States shall be made on settlements by the Secretary of the Treasury. Payment of final judgments rendered by a State or foreign court or tribunal against the United States, or against its agencies or officials upon obligations or liabilities of the United States, shall be made on settlements by the Secretary of the Treasury after certification by the Attorney General that it is in the interest of the United States to pay the same.

(b)

Whenever the Attorney General determines that no appeal shall be taken from a judgment or that no further review will be sought from a decision affirming the same, he shall so certify and the judgment shall be deemed final.

(c)

Except as otherwise provided by law, and subject to enactment of a resolution in the case of a covered settlement, compromise settlements of claims referred to the Attorney General for defense of imminent litigation or suits against the United States, or against its agencies or officials upon obligations or liabilities of the United States, made by the Attorney General or any person authorized by him, shall be settled and paid in a manner similar to judgments in like causes and appropriations or funds available for the payment of such judgments are hereby made available for the payment of such compromise settlements.

(d)

The Attorney General shall expeditiously submit a report, bearing an identification number, setting forth the terms of a covered settlement to both Houses of Congress on the same day and to each House while it is in session.

(e)

No proposal for a covered settlement may be considered approved unless during the period beginning on the date on which the report under subsection (d) is received by Congress and ending 60 days thereafter a resolution described in subsection (f) is enacted.

(f)

For the purpose of this section, the term resolution means only a joint resolution of the Congress, the matter after the resolving clause of which is as follows: That the____approves the covered settlement numbered___submitted to the Congress on____, the first blank space therein being filled with the name of the resolving House and the other blank spaces being appropriately filled.

(g)

In this section, the term covered settlement means any compromise settlement for defense of imminent litigation or suit by the President or a former President against the United States, or against its agencies or officials upon obligations or liabilities of the United States.

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