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Read. Follow. Verify.Congressional Hearing on 'Sue and Settle' Litigation
Record date · January 1, 2018
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What This Bill Does
This document is a transcript record of a joint Congressional subcommittee hearing held on July 25, 2017, to examine the practice of '' agreements. The hearing explored how outside groups sue federal agencies to force settlements that may impact government policy and regulatory actions.
The hearing examines the process by which federal agencies settle lawsuits with outside groups, a practice that can lead to binding regulatory changes or government actions without traditional public notice-and-comment rulemaking.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Federal Agencies
These agencies are the primary targets of 'sue and settle' litigation and are responsible for implementing the resulting settlement terms.
Outside Advocacy Groups
These groups initiate the lawsuits that lead to the settlement agreements discussed in the hearing.
Key Facts
- The hearing was a joint session of the Subcommittee on Intergovernmental Affairs and the Subcommittee on the Interior, Energy, and Environment.
- The hearing took place on July 25, 2017, in the Rayburn House Office Building.
- The subject is 'sue and settle' agreements, where outside groups sue federal agencies for alleged violations of law.
- The hearing is the second part of a series examining the impact of these settlements.
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- Witnesses included former Governor John Engler, Dr. David Sanders, Robert Weissman, and City Administrator Carl E. Geffken.
- Chairman Gary Palmer entered an article from the Alabama Policy Institute into the record regarding consent decrees in institutional reform litigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
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News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceFull breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Focus on Institutional Reform Litigation
The inclusion of the Alabama Policy Institute article suggests a specific interest in how consent decrees affect state-level institutional reforms.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.govinfo.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance60How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy50Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz15Current news / social attention level
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