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Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I also rise in support of H.R. 300, the Settlement Agreement Information Database Act.
The principle of open government is a hallmark of our system of governing, dating as far back as the Enlightenment.
The open government governing doctrine maintains that citizens have a right to access the federal government’s records and operations to facilitate oversight of the public business.
Open government principles are key to fulfilling the promise of a nation ruled by the “consent of the governed.”
Open government requires transparency and public participation, which are vital to ensure the public’s continued trust in our government.
Increasingly, however, the federal agencies have entered into legally-binding settlement agreements to resolve litigation without going through lengthy, public trials that often provide the transparency.
Unfortunately, agencies generally release limited information about these settlements. When information is published, it is usually in the form of a press release, focused more on self-promoting than informing.
Furthermore, federal agencies can unilaterally deem the terms of the settlement agreement confidential with no explanation.
Such secret negotiations and agreements prevent the public from participating in important policy decisions made on their behalf.
As a result, it is impossible for Congress and the public to determine the comprehensive impact of these settlement agreements on State and local governments, private sector entities, and taxpayers.
These parties are often barred from providing input, but must continue to follow their mandated requirements, which often remain in effect for decades.
Today, I am pleased to join my colleagues on both sides of the aisle as we take this first step to correct this problem.
The Settlement Agreement Information Database Act, or the SAID Act, will increase the transparency of the federal government and shine a much-needed light on settlement agreements.
The bill requires federal agencies to submit information regarding settlement agreements to a public, electronic database.
The public resource is to be overseen by the Office of Management and Budget, would include the dates, payments, attorney’s fees awards, and a list of states, municipalities, and other entities impacted by these settlements.
Under the requirements of the SAID Act, if the agency believes that the information regarding an agreement should remain confidential, the agency head must publish an explanation of why it is confidential.
I want to thank my colleagues for supporting this bipartisan legislation.
They include Chairman Comer, Ranking Member Raskin, Representatives Ami Bera, Scott Peters, Andy Barr, and French Hill.
And I especially want to thank my colleague across the aisle, Representative Gerry Connolly, for his leadership introducing this bill jointly with me.
In a time when Americans feel divided, it is important to come together to support commonsense, good government legislation.
I am happy we could expedite its consideration again in the House and
I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this common-sense legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.
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