Legislation That Would Require Greater Public Disclosure of Agency Settlement Agreements on Track for Congressional Approval

Congress is poised to pass new legislation that would increase requirements for federal agencies to publicly disclose more information regarding settlements of administrative enforcement actions that they enter into with employers.

1109, The Truth in Settlements Act, has already been approved by the full Senate and by a key House of Representatives Committee — in both cases with broad bipartisan support — and is currently pending House floor action.

The bill would apply to certain settlements reached by both the Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). That said, because these agencies already make much of this information publicly available, the practical impact of S. 1109 on OFCCP and EEOC settlements is likely to be limited.

A copy of S. 1109, as approved by the full Senate and House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, is available here.

Members of the Equal Employment Advisory Council (EEAC) can read more here.