I 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2221 

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

resolutions. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 27, 2017 

Mr. SMUCKER 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 ‘‘Government Shutdown 

5 Prevention 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) 100 percent of the rate of operations pro19 vided for in the regular appropriation Act providing 

20 for such program, project, or activity for the pre21 ceding fiscal year; 

22 ‘‘(ii) in the absence of such an Act, 100 percent 

23 of the rate of operations provided for such program, 

24 project, or activity pursuant to a joint resolution 

25 making continuing appropriations for such preceding 

26 fiscal year; or 


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1 ‘‘(iii) 100 percent of the annualized rate of op2 erations provided for in the most recently enacted 

3 joint resolution making continuing appropriations 

4 for part of that fiscal year or any funding levels es5 tablished under the provisions of this Act, 

6 for the period of 120 days. After the first 120-day period 

7 during which this subsection is in effect for that fiscal 

8 year, the applicable rate of operations shall be reduced by 

9 1 percentage point. For each subsequent 90-day period 

10 during which this subsection is in effect for that fiscal 

11 year, the applicable rate of operations shall be reduced by 

12 1 percentage point. The 90-day period reductions shall ex13 tend beyond the last day of that fiscal year. 

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

15 year, funding levels shall continue as provided in this sec16 tion for the next fiscal year. 

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

18 authority granted, for any fiscal year pursuant to this sec19 tion for a program, project, or activity shall be available 

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

21 appropriations and ending with the date on which the ap22 plicable regular appropriation bill for such fiscal year be23 comes law (whether or not such law provides for such pro24 gram, project, or activity) or a continuing resolution mak25 ing appropriations becomes law, as the case may be. 


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1 ‘‘(b) An appropriation or funds made available, or au2 thority granted, for a program, project, or activity for any 

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

4 terms and conditions imposed with respect to the appro5 priation made or funds made available for the preceding 

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

7 or activity under current law. 

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

9 activity for any fiscal year pursuant to this section shall 

10 be charged to the applicable appropriation, fund, or au11 thorization whenever a regular appropriation bill or a joint 

12 resolution making continuing appropriations until the end 

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

14 activity for such period becomes law. 

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

16 project, or activity during a fiscal year if any other provi17 sion of law (other than an authorization of appropria18 tions)— 

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

20 available, or grants authority for such program, 

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

22 ‘‘(2) specifically provides that no appropriation 

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

24 no authority shall be granted for such program, 

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


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

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

3 by inserting after the item relating to section 1310 the 

4 following new item: 

‘‘1311. Continuing appropriations.’’. 

Æ 


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