Stop Settlement Slush Funds Act of 2017

Bill 115 hr 732, also known as the Stop Settlement Slush Funds Act of 2017, aims to prohibit the Department of Justice (DOJ) from entering into settlement agreements that require the defendant to make donations to third-party organizations. These donations are often referred to as "slush funds" because they allow the DOJ to direct funds to organizations of its choosing, rather than to victims or the US Treasury.

The bill states that any funds obtained through settlements must be deposited into the Treasury, where they can be used for the benefit of taxpayers or victims of the wrongdoing. This is intended to ensure that settlement funds are used in a transparent and accountable manner.

Supporters of the bill argue that it will prevent the DOJ from using settlement agreements to advance its own political agenda or to fund organizations that may not have the best interests of the American people in mind. They believe that settlement funds should be used to compensate victims or to benefit the public as a whole. Opponents of the bill argue that it could limit the DOJ's ability to negotiate settlements that are in the best interest of all parties involved. They believe that the DOJ should have the flexibility to direct settlement funds to organizations that can help address the underlying issues that led to the wrongdoing in the first place. Overall, the Stop Settlement Slush Funds Act of 2017 seeks to ensure that settlement funds are used in a fair and transparent manner, without allowing the DOJ to direct funds to third-party organizations for its own purposes.