I 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 797 

To amend title 31, United States Code, to provide for automatic continuing 

resolutions. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 25, 2019 

Mr. GROTHMAN (for himself and Mr. LOEBSACK) introduced the following bill; 

which was referred to the Committee on Appropriations 

A BILL 

To amend title 31, United States Code, to provide for 

automatic continuing resolutions. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘End Government Shut5 downs Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. AUTOMATIC CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS. 

7 (a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 13 of title 31, United 

8 States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1310 

9 the following new section: 


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1 ‘‘SEC. 1311. CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS. 

2 ‘‘(a)(1) If any appropriation measure for a fiscal year 

3 is not enacted before the beginning of such fiscal year or 

4 a joint resolution making continuing appropriations is not 

5 in effect, there are appropriated such sums as may be nec6 essary to continue any program, project, or activity for 

7 which funds were provided in the preceding fiscal year— 

8 ‘‘(A) in the corresponding appropriation Act for 

9 such preceding fiscal year; or 

10 ‘‘(B) if the corresponding appropriation bill for 

11 such preceding fiscal year did not become law, then 

12 in a joint resolution making continuing appropria13 tions for such preceding fiscal year. 

14 ‘‘(2)(A) Appropriations and funds made available, 

15 and authority granted, for a program, project, or activity 

16 for any fiscal year pursuant to this section shall be at a 

17 rate of operations not in excess of the lower of— 

18 ‘‘(i) the rate of operations provided for in the 

19 regular appropriation Act providing for such pro20 gram, project, or activity for the preceding fiscal 

21 year; 

22 ‘‘(ii) in the absence of such an Act, the rate of 

23 operations provided for such program, project, or ac24 tivity pursuant to a joint resolution making con25 tinuing appropriations for such preceding fiscal year; 

26 or 


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1 ‘‘(iii) the annualized rate of operations provided 

2 for in the most recently enacted joint resolution 

3 making continuing appropriations for part of that 

4 fiscal year or any funding levels established under 

5 the provisions of this Act. 

6 ‘‘(B) If this section is in effect at the end of a fiscal 

7 year, funding levels shall continue as provided in this sec8 tion for the next fiscal year. 

9 ‘‘(3) Appropriations and funds made available, and 

10 authority granted, for any fiscal year pursuant to this sec11 tion for a program, project, or activity shall be available 

12 for the period beginning with the first day of a lapse in 

13 appropriations and ending with the date on which the ap14 plicable regular appropriation bill for such fiscal year be15 comes law (whether or not such law provides for such pro16 gram, project, or activity) or a continuing resolution mak17 ing appropriations becomes law, as the case may be. 

18 ‘‘(b) An appropriation or funds made available, or au19 thority granted, for a program, project, or activity for any 

20 fiscal year pursuant to this section shall be subject to the 

21 terms and conditions imposed with respect to the appro22 priation made or funds made available for the preceding 

23 fiscal year, or authority granted for such program, project, 

24 or activity under current law. 


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1 ‘‘(c) Expenditures made for a program, project, or 

2 activity for any fiscal year pursuant to this section shall 

3 be charged to the applicable appropriation, fund, or au4 thorization whenever a regular appropriation bill or a joint 

5 resolution making continuing appropriations until the end 

6 of a fiscal year providing for such program, project, or 

7 activity for such period becomes law. 

8 ‘‘(d) This section shall not apply to a program, 

9 project, or activity during a fiscal year if any other provi10 sion of law (other than an authorization of appropria11 tions)— 

12 ‘‘(1) makes an appropriation, makes funds 

13 available, or grants authority for such program, 

14 project, or activity to continue for such period; or 

15 ‘‘(2) specifically provides that no appropriation 

16 shall be made, no funds shall be made available, or 

17 no authority shall be granted for such program, 

18 project, or activity to continue for such period.’’. 

19 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 

20 of chapter 13 of title 31, United States Code, is amended 

21 by inserting after the item relating to section 1310 the 

22 following new item: 

‘‘1311. Continuing appropriations.’’. 


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1 (c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 

2 this Act shall take effect on October 1, 2019, and shall 

3 apply beginning with fiscal year 2020. 

Æ 


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