I 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 4515 

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

resolutions for the Department of Veterans Affairs. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 26, 2019 

Ms. BROWNLEY of California 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 for the Department of Veterans Affairs. 

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 ‘‘Veterans Affairs Pro5 tection Act of 2019’’. 

6 SEC. 2. AUTOMATIC CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS FOR 

7 THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 

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

9 States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1310 

10 the following new section: 


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1 ‘‘SEC. 1311. CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE DE2 PARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 

3 ‘‘(a)(1) If an appropriation for an account under the 

4 heading ‘Department of Veterans Affairs’ for a fiscal year 

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

6 a joint resolution making continuing appropriations is not 

7 in effect, there are appropriated such sums as may be nec8 essary to continue any program, project, or activity for 

9 which funds were provided under such heading in the pre10 ceding fiscal year— 

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

12 such preceding fiscal year; or 

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

14 such preceding fiscal year did not become law, then 

15 in a joint resolution making continuing appropria16 tions for such preceding fiscal year. 

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

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

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

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

21 ‘‘(i) 100 percent of the rate of operations pro22 vided for in the regular appropriation Act providing 

23 for such program, project, or activity for the pre24 ceding fiscal year; 

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

26 of the rate of operations provided for such program, 


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1 project, or activity pursuant to a joint resolution 

2 making continuing appropriations for such preceding 

3 fiscal year; or 

4 ‘‘(iii) 100 percent of the annualized rate of op5 erations provided for in the most recently enacted 

6 joint resolution making continuing appropriations 

7 for part of that fiscal year or any funding levels es8 tablished under the provisions of this Act. 

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

10 year, funding levels shall continue as provided in this sec11 tion for the next fiscal year. 

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

13 authority granted, for any fiscal year pursuant to this sec14 tion for a program, project, or activity shall be available 

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

16 appropriations and ending with the date on which the ap17 plicable regular appropriation bill for such fiscal year be18 comes law (whether or not such law provides for such pro19 gram, project, or activity) or a continuing resolution mak20 ing appropriations becomes law, as the case may be. 

21 ‘‘(b) An appropriation or funds made available, or au22 thority granted, for a program, project, or activity for any 

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

24 terms and conditions imposed with respect to the appro25 priation made or funds made available for the preceding 


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

2 or activity under current law. 

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

4 activity for any fiscal year pursuant to this section shall 

5 be charged to the applicable appropriation, fund, or au6 thorization whenever a regular appropriation bill or a joint 

7 resolution making continuing appropriations until the end 

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

9 activity for such period becomes law. 

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

11 project, or activity during a fiscal year if any other provi12 sion of law (other than an authorization of appropria13 tions)— 

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

15 available, or grants authority for such program, 

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

17 ‘‘(2) specifically provides that no appropriation 

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

19 no authority shall be granted for such program, 

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

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

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

23 by inserting after the item relating to section 1310 the 

24 following new item: 

‘‘1311. Continuing appropriations for the Department of Veterans Affairs.’’. 

Æ 


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