[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9210 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 9210
To amend title 28, United States Code, to establish certain
requirements for compromise settlements between the President and the
United States, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 9, 2026
Mr. Raskin introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 28, United States Code, to establish certain
requirements for compromise settlements between the President and the
United States, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Block Lawless Agreements and Nullify
Corrupt Handouts and Emoluments Act of 2026'' or the ``BLANCHE Act of
2026''.
SEC. 2. COMPROMISE SETTLEMENTS.
(a) In General.--Chapter 161 of title 28, United States Code, is
amended by inserting after section 2414 the following:
``Sec. 2414a. Compromise settlements between the President and the
United States
``(a) Prohibition.--In the case of any administrative claim, civil
action, or other claim against the United States filed by the President
(including a claim or civil action filed by an individual who assumed
the Office of the President while such claim is pending), a covered
agreement resolving such claim or action may not be entered into, and
no action pursuant to such covered agreement may be taken, if, pursuant
to such covered agreement--
``(1) the President (including after the President leaves
office), or
``(2) any third party, at the direction of the President,
would receive any payment by the United States, in cash or in kind,
including for damages, reimbursement, or attorneys' fees.
``(b) Invalidity.--In the case of any administrative claim, civil
action, or other claim against the United States filed by the President
(including a claim or civil action filed by an individual who assumed
the Office of the President while such claim is pending), any covered
agreement to resolve such claim or action is void ab initio unless such
covered agreement is the subject of a court order giving it effect. A
court of the United States may not issue such an order unless--
``(1) the President, if no such civil action has been
filed, files a civil action before the court and files the
proposed terms of the covered agreement with the court; and
``(2) the court conducts a hearing on the proposed terms of
the covered agreement, with presentation of evidence by the
parties, and thereafter enters the order giving effect to the
terms of the covered agreement, that includes explicit findings
of the court that--
``(A) the parties to the action are adverse;
``(B) the action was not brought to force a covered
agreement with the United States;
``(C) the United States made a good faith effort to
explore available defenses to the claims at issue and
has a reasonable legal basis for its decision to enter
into the covered agreement;
``(D) the covered agreement is not--
``(i) collusive; or
``(ii) the perpetration of a fraud on the
court; and
``(E) the covered agreement is in the interest of
justice.
``(c) Covered Agreement Defined.--In this section, the term
`covered agreement' means any settlement agreement, consent decree,
compromise settlement, or other agreement to resolve an administrative
claim, civil action, or other claim against the United States.
``(d) Applicability.--This section shall apply to any covered
agreement between the President and the United States concluded before,
on, or after the date of enactment of this section.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 161 of
title 28, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item
related to section 2414 the following:
``2414a. Compromise settlements between the President and the United
States.''.
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