Settlement Agreement Information Database Act of 2023

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, I do indeed support this significant, commonsense, and bipartisan legislation. I thank the chairman again, and I thank Representatives Palmer and Connolly for their hard work on it.

The Settlement Agreement Information Database Act will create a database of settlement agreements entered into by Federal agencies relating to alleged violations of Federal civil or criminal law. The OMB will manage the database and set deadlines for submission.

The heads of executive agencies will be required to submit details about the types of settlement agreements they have entered into, the parties who are actually involved in them, the specific violations, and the dates upon which such settlement agreements were made. All information about the settlement agreements would remain public until 5 years after they terminate.

The information in the agreements would remain subject to the Freedom of Information Act, but if the head of the agency decided to keep an entire agreement confidential, he or she would be required to provide a specific explanation of that action.

This legislation will substantially improve the transparency surrounding so many settlement agreements, which in the past have been very difficult for the public to access or even to find. Transparency is, of course, central to the rule of law.

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Mr. RASKIN. Jackson Lee), my colleague.

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, first of all, let me express my appreciation to the members of this committee, Gerry Connolly, and then to look at my friend, Mr. Raskin, I am delighted to be on the floor with him and delighted to be on the floor with the manager of this legislation as well.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 300, the Settlement Agreement Information Database Act of 2023, which would help increase the transparency of executive agencies to the public and allow the public to hold the government accountable.

This is the people's House. We were just discussing, even today, the enormity of the work that we have done in the powerful infrastructure bill, the CHIPS bill, and the Inflation Reduction Act. But if there are aspects of a bill that should be directed to the people, if there is information that lets them have a fullness of what has happened on behalf of the American people--what have we accomplished?

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 300 would make public certain information included in settlement agreements entered into by executive agencies by establishing a public database for the reporting of agreements that cover alleged violation of civil or criminal law.

The information that will be disclosed to the public include: what type of settlement it is, any costs of money involved in the settlement agreement, what State and local governments are affected by the settlements, and the duration and modifications of such.

This ties into my point earlier of knowing information about what is going on in the government in terms of our legislation. This specifically provides the information to families and businesses and communities if there has been a settlement on a matter that they are interested in.

True transparency is for the government to be known by American citizens on everything we do, and one of the most hidden is the idea of settlements of cases. Maybe it has impacted a city, an individual, a family, a school, and it is important to know what these agreements are.

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to have this legislation in the name of transparency, and I rise to support H.R. 300, and I ask my colleagues to support it enthusiastically as well.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 300, the `Settlement Agreement Information Database Act of 2023,'' which would help increase transparency of executive agencies to the public and allow the people to hold the government accountable.

H.R. 300 would make public certain information included in settlement agreements entered into by Executive agencies by establishing a public database for the reporting of agreements that cover alleged violation of Federal civil or criminal law.

The information that will be disclosed to the public include the following: what the type of settlement agreement it is, who is involved, any costs or money involved in the settlement agreement, what state and local governments are affected by the settlement agreements, the duration and modifications of the settlement agreement and any justifications for the settlement agreement.

This bill also allows for confidentiality in situations where the interests of the confidentiality provision would protect public interest.

An information database is important in the oversight of executive agencies, to ensure they are properly carrying out and enforcing laws we have passed.

As a senior member of the Homeland Security Committee, this information would be vital to the security of the country.

This information is important in knowing what secret deals are being made that relate to the violation of federal civil or criminal law, and to whom and where settlement payments are being sent.

H.R. 300 is a crucial step in protecting democracy.

By making settlement agreements public information, the public will feel more confident that there are no secret deals to cover bad behavior by corrupt government officials.

Additionally, this act serves as a deterrent for potential bad behavior in any government agency because the information database would ensure that bad behavior could not be hidden.

We work in an office of public trust, and the best way to ensure that the people trust us and listen to us, is to be as transparent as possible in any actions we take.

H.R. 300 helps the people to keep the government and check and hold us accountable.

By becoming transparent in how settlements are paid, taxpayers can be confident in how their money is being spent and what ways settlement agreements are impacting fiscal health.

It is important that we know the financial burden these settlements have on state and local governments.

The people deserve to be informed on where their money is being put and how that affects their communities and public services.

This way, when the people feel violated or that a community issue is not addressed, they can better advocate for themselves and participate in the democratic process.

As elected officials, our job is to make sure we are helping our constituents and advocating for their issues.

If we limit information, we are stopping our citizens from getting the help they need from us or understanding who they should hold accountable for a problem.

That would be a detriment to democracy.

H.R. 300 is necessary because it is an important step in creating government transparency which is crucial to the democratic process.

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Mr. RASKIN. Mr. Speaker, I would say, in closing, that I was moved by what Mr. Palmer had to say, that democracy is based on consent, and consent is based on access, but there is no access if you don't have transparency.

I think about something that James Madison said: ``And a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power that knowledge gives.'' So people need to have knowledge of everything that our government is doing. We don't want government entities entering into secret, sweetheart settlements with different litigants. It has got to be open to the whole public.

Mr. Speaker, I thank him and I thank the chairman for bringing this forward, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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