HEARING ADVISORY: Constitution and Civil Justice Subcommittee to Hold Hearing on the Use of DOJ Appropriations

Subcommittee Will Examine Transparency and Application of the Judgment FundWashington, D.C. — On Wednesday, September 7, 2016, at 10:30 A.M., the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice will hold an oversight hearing entitled, “Oversight of the Judgment Fund: Iran, Big Settlements, and the Lack of Transparency.” The hearing will examine the history and use of the government’s Judgment Fund, which is a permanent and indefinite appropriation for the Department of Justice to pay settlements and judgments made against the United States. The use of the Judgment Fund has come under recent scrutiny when monies from the fund were used in a settlement with Iran, which lacked proper transparency and clear reporting to the American public. The witnesses for Wednesday’s hearing will be:

• Prof. Paul Figley, Associate Director of Legal Rhetoric, Washington College of Law – American University
• Prof. Jeffrey Axelrad, Professional Lecturer in Law, the George Washington University Law School
• Prof. Neil J. Kinkopf, Professor of Law, Georgia State University College of Law

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) and Constitution and Civil Justice Subcommittee Chairman Trent Franks (R-Ariz.) released the following statement prior to the hearing:

“When Congress appropriates taxpayer dollars to agencies of the federal government, the American people expect the government to report the use of those appropriations in an honest and transparent manner. Transparency between our branches of government, as well as the American people, allows for a better government.“The lack of transparency regarding the Judgment Funds raises serious concerns about how the DOJ is allocating funds not only in routine claims made against the United States, but also settlements with foreign governments under questionable circumstances.”

The hearing will take place in 2237 Rayburn House Office Building and will be webcast live at /. Camera crews wishing to cover must be congressionally credentialed and RSVP with the House Radio-TV Gallery at (202) 225-5214. Click here to learn more about this hearing.