Contact Congress about H.R. 788: Stop Settlement Slush Funds Act of 2023

Federal officials could no longer use civil settlements to pay outside groups unless the money fixes harm or covers work tied to the case. Agencies would report these payments, and agency watchdogs would report violations.

Modern Action explains what the legislation does, helps you choose whether to support, oppose, or ask for changes, and drafts a message tied to the bill, your stance, and the elected officials who can act on it.

Stop Settlement Slush Funds Act of 2023 is a House bill in Congress.

Who this affects: This bill mainly affects federal officials who negotiate civil settlements and the people or groups that may receive settlement money. Companies and individuals settling federal cases could also face fewer choices for where their payments go. Directly harmed people could still receive money to repair their losses.

Why this matters: Federal settlements can decide whether money goes to the U.S. government, harmed parties, or outside programs. This bill would tie most outside payments to the actual harm or work on the case. That could strengthen control over federal spending and make settlements easier to track. It could also limit projects meant to help a wider community.

Key provisions in H.R. 788

• Federal officials could not approve or enforce most civil settlement payments to outside people or groups. A payment would be allowed if it repairs harm or pays for services tied to the case.
• A payment could repay real harm caused by the payer. The harm must be a close result of the payer's actions and may include environmental damage.
• Officials who break the rule could face the same penalties used when federal money is handled improperly. Those penalties come from section 3302 of title 31 of the U.S. Code.
• The limits would apply only to settlement agreements made on or after the bill becomes law.
• Each agency head would send a yearly electronic report to the Congressional Budget Office about allowed outside payments. The report must name the parties, identify where the money came from, and explain how it was or would be used.

How Modern Action helps you take action on H.R. 788

You do not have to start with a blank letter. Modern Action turns the bill, your position, and the relevant congressional context into a message you can edit and send. The goal is to make contacting Congress clear, specific, and useful without forcing you to parse bill text or figure out the right office on your own.

Questions people ask about H.R. 788

What is H.R. 788?

Federal officials could no longer use civil settlements to pay outside groups unless the money fixes harm or covers work tied to the case. Agencies would report these payments, and agency watchdogs would report violations.

How do I support or oppose H.R. 788?

Choose support, oppose, or ask for changes on Modern Action. The action flow drafts the message for you and keeps the wording tied to this bill.

Who should I contact about H.R. 788?

Modern Action uses your location to route the action to the congressional offices relevant to the bill and your representation.

How does Modern Action help me act on H.R. 788?

Modern Action gives you bill-specific context, lets you choose support, opposition, or changes, and drafts a message from your position and reasons.