AUTHORITY TO SETTLE CLAIMS.

SECTION 1. AUTHORITY TO SETTLE CLAIMS. (a) Increased Authority.—Section 3724 of title 31, United States Code, is amended— (1) in the first sentence of subsection (a)— (A) by striking out “$500” and inserting in lieu thereof “$50,000”; and (B) by striking out “the Director” and all that follows through “Investigation” and inserting in lieu thereof “an investigative or law enforcement officer as defined in section 2680(h) of title 28 who is employed by the Department of Justice”; and (2) in subsection (b) by striking out “The Attorney General” in the first sentence and all that follows through “The” in the second sentence and inserting in lieu thereof the following: “The Attorney General shall report annually to the Congress on all settlements made under this section. With respect to each such settlement, the”. (b) >Conforming Amendments.— (1) The section heading for section 3724 of title 31, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: “§ 3724. Claims for damages caused by investigative or law enforcement officers of the Department of Justice”. (2) The item relating to section 3724 in the table of sections at the beginning of chapter 37 of title 31, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: “3724. Claims for damages caused by investigative or law enforcement officers of the Department of Justice.”.