I 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1536 
To prioritize the payment of pay and allowances to members of the Armed 
Forces and Federal law enforcement officers in the event the debt ceiling 
is reached or there is a funding gap. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 15, 2017 
Mr. FITZPATRICK introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on 
Transportation and Infrastructure, Armed Services, and the Judiciary, 
for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case 
for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the 
committee concerned 
A BILL 
To prioritize the payment of pay and allowances to members 
of the Armed Forces and Federal law enforcement offi-
cers in the event the debt ceiling is reached or there 
is a funding gap. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Strengthening Home-
land Security, Intelligence, and Essential Law Enforce-
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ment Departments Act of 2017’’ or the ‘‘SHIELD Act 
of 2017’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) The United States Armed Forces represent 
the finest fighting force in the world. 
(2) An interruption in compensation could af-
fect morale and cause hardship which would threat-
en United States security and the safety of our 
troops. 
(3) It is a vital national interest that the 
United States Armed Forces, including reserve com-
ponents, can operate with the assurance that they 
will continue to receive pay and allowances for their 
service if a funding gap occurs. 
(4) Federal law enforcement officers are highly 
trained and dedicated men and women, committed to 
protecting liberty, public safety, and the security of 
our Nation from both foreign and domestic threats. 
(5) They have no equal in the private sector, 
and perform a role that is both unique and vital to 
the continuing operation of the Federal Government 
and commerce during times of crisis. 
(6) Each and every day, Federal law enforce-
ment officers are engaged around the clock in activi-
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of such agency, out of any amounts in the general fund 
of the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, such amounts 
as the heads of such agencies determine to be necessary 
to continue to provide pay and allowances (without inter-
ruption) to such critical law enforcement officers during 
the period of lapsed appropriations. 
SEC. 5. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) CRITICAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.— 
The term ‘‘critical law enforcement officer’’ means 
an employee— 
(A) who has statutory authority to make 
arrests or apprehensions; 
(B) who is authorized by the agency of the 
employee to carry firearms; and 
(C) whose duties include performing emer-
gency work involving the safety of human life or 
the protection of property. 
(2) PERIOD OF LAPSED APPROPRIATIONS.—The 
term ‘‘period of lapsed appropriations’’ means any 
period during which appropriations are not available 
due to the absence of the timely enactment of any 
Act or joint resolution (including any Act or joint 
resolution making continuing appropriations) appro-
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priating funds for the payment of the pay and allow-
ances. 
(3) TOTAL
PUBLIC
DEBT.—The term ‘‘total 
public debt’’ has the meaning given such term in 
section 3130 of title 31, United States Code. 
Æ 
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