Government Shutdown Prevention Act

Summary: Government Shutdown Prevention Act - Provides for continuing appropriations (at 100 percent of the rate of operations provided for in FY 1997) in the absence of regular appropriations for FY 1998.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Government Shutdown Prevention 
Act''.

SEC. 2. CONTINUING FUNDING.

    (a) If any regular appropriation bill for fiscal year 1998 does not 
become law prior to the beginning of fiscal year 1998 or a joint 
resolution making continuing appropriations is not in effect, there is 
appropriated, out of any moneys in the Treasury not otherwise 
appropriated, and out of applicable corporate or other revenues, 
receipts, and funds, such sums as may be necessary to continue any 
program, project, or activity for which funds were provided in fiscal 
year 1997.
    (b) Appropriations and funds made available, and authority granted, 
for a program, project, or activity for fiscal year 1998 pursuant to 
this Act shall be at 100 per cent of the rate of operations that was 
provided for the program, project, or activity in fiscal year 1997 in 
the corresponding regular appropriation Act for fiscal year 1997.
    (c) Appropriations and funds made available, and authority granted, 
for fiscal year 1998 pursuant to this Act for a program, project, or 
activity shall be available for the period beginning with the first day 
of a lapse in appropriations and ending with the earlier of--
            (1) the date on which the applicable regular appropriation 
        bill for fiscal year 1998 becomes law (whether or not that law 
        provides for that program, project, or activity) or a 
        continuing resolution making appropriations becomes law, as the 
        case may be; or
            (2) the last day of fiscal year 1998.

SEC. 3. TERMS AND CONDITIONS.

    (a) An appropriation of funds made available, or authority granted, 
for a program, project, or activity for fiscal year 1998 pursuant to 
this Act shall be made available to the extent and in the manner which 
would be provided by the pertinent appropriations Act for fiscal year 
1997, including all of the terms and conditions and the apportionment 
schedule imposed with respect to the appropriation made or funds made 
available for fiscal year 1997 or authority granted for the program, 
project, or activity under current law.
    (b) Appropriations made by this Act shall be available to the 
extent and in the manner which would be provided by the pertinent 
appropriations Act.

SEC. 4. COVERAGE.

    Appropriations and funds made available, and authority granted, for 
any program, project, or activity for fiscal year 1998 pursuant to this 
Act shall cover all obligations or expenditures incurred for that 
program, project, or activity during the portion of fiscal year 1998 
for which this Act applies to that program, project, or activity.

SEC. 5. EXPENDITURES

    Expenditures made for a program, project, or activity for fiscal 
year 1998 pursuant to this Act shall be charged to the applicable 
appropriation, fund, or authorization whenever a regular appropriation 
bill or a joint resolution making continuing appropriations until the 
end of fiscal year 1998 providing for that program, project, or 
activity for that period becomes law.

SEC. 6. INITIATING OR RESUMING A PROGRAM, PROJECT, OR ACTIVITY.

    No appropriation or funds made available or authority granted 
pursuant to this Act shall be used to initiate or resume any program, 
project, or activity for which appropriations, funds, or other 
authority were not available during fiscal year 1997.

SEC. 7. PROTECTION OF OTHER OBLIGATIONS.

    Nothing in this Act shall be construed to effect Government 
obligations mandated by other law, including obligations with respect 
to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and veterans benefits.

SEC. 8. DEFINITION.

    In this Act, the term ``regular appropriation bill'' means any 
annual appropriation bill making appropriations, otherwise making funds 
available, or granting authority, for any of the following categories 
of programs, projects, and activities:
            (1) Agriculture, rural development, and related agencies 
        programs.
            (2) The Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the 
        judiciary, and related agencies.
            (3) The Department of Defense.
            (4) The government of the District of Columbia and other 
        activities chargeable in whole or in part against the revenues 
        of the District.
            (5) The Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, 
        and Education, and related agencies.
            (6) The Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and 
        Urban Development, and sundry independent agencies, boards, 
        commissions, corporations, and offices.
            (7) Energy and water development.
            (8) Foreign assistance and related programs.
            (9) The Department of the Interior and related agencies.
            (10) Military construction.
            (11) The Department of Transportation and related agencies.
            (12) The Treasury Department, the U.S. Postal Service, the 
        Executive Office of the President, and certain independent 
        agencies.
            (13) The legislative branch.