I
105TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 1785
To amend title 31, United States Code, to provide an automatic continuing
appropriation for the United States Government.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JUNE 4, 1997
Mr. KLECZKA introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Appropriations
A BILL
To amend title 31, United States Code, to provide an auto-
matic continuing appropriation for the United States
Government.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. AUTOMATIC CONTINUING RESOLUTION.
Chapter 13 of title 31, United States Code, is amend-
ed by inserting after section 1310 the following new sec-
tion:
‘‘§ 1311. Continuing appropriations
‘‘(a)(1) If any regular appropriation bill or continuing
resolution for a fiscal year does not become law before the
beginning of such fiscal year, 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 project or activity for which funds were provided in
the preceding fiscal year—
‘‘(A) in the corresponding regular appropriation
Act or continuing resolution for such preceding fiscal
year; or
‘‘(B) if the corresponding regular appropriation
bill or continuing resolution for such preceding fiscal
year did not become law, then pursuant to this sec-
tion.
‘‘(2) Appropriations and funds made available, and
authority granted, for a project or activity for any fiscal
year pursuant to this section shall be at a rate of oper-
ations not in excess of—
‘‘(A) the rate of operations provided for in the
regular appropriation Act or continuing resolution
providing for such project or activity for the preced-
ing fiscal year, or
‘‘(B) in the absence of such an Act or continu-
ing resolution, the rate of operations provided for
such project or activity pursuant to this section for
such preceding fiscal year.
‘‘(3) Appropriations and funds made available, and
authority granted, for any fiscal year pursuant to this sec-
tion for a project or activity shall be available for the pe-
riod beginning with the first day of such fiscal year and
ending with the earlier of—
‘‘(A) the date on which the applicable regular
appropriation bill or continuing resolution for such
fiscal year becomes law (whether or not such law
provides for such project or activity), and
‘‘(B) the last day of such fiscal year.
‘‘(b) An appropriation or funds made available, or au-
thority granted, for a project or activity for any fiscal year
pursuant to this section shall be subject to the terms and
conditions imposed with respect to the appropriation
made, funds made available, or authority granted for such
project or activity for the preceding fiscal year.
‘‘(c) Appropriations and funds made available, and
authority granted, for any project or activity for any fiscal
year pursuant to this section shall cover all obligations or
expenditures incurred for such project or activity during
the portion of such fiscal year for which this section ap-
plies to such project or activity.
‘‘(d) Expenditures made for a project or activity for
any fiscal year pursuant to this section shall be charged
to the applicable appropriation, fund, or authorization
whenever a regular appropriation bill or continuing resolu-
tion providing for such project or activity for such period
becomes law.
‘‘(e) No appropriation is made by reason of subpara-
graph (B) of subsection (a)(1) for a fiscal year for any
project or activity for which there is no authorization of
appropriations for such fiscal year.
‘‘(f) This section shall not apply to a project or activ-
ity during a fiscal year if any other provision of law (other
than an authorization of appropriations)—
‘‘(1) makes an appropriation, makes funds
available, or grants authority for such project or ac-
tivity to continue for such period, or
‘‘(2) specifically provides that no appropriation
shall be made, no funds shall be made available, or
no authority shall be granted for such project or ac-
tivity to continue for such period.
‘‘(g) For purposes of this section:
‘‘(1) The term ‘regular appropriation bill’
means any regular appropriation bill (within the
meaning given to such term in section 307 of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 638))
making appropriations, otherwise making funds
available, or granting authority, for any of the fol-
lowing categories of projects and activities:
‘‘(A) Agriculture, rural development, and
related agencies programs.
‘‘(B) The Departments of Commerce, Jus-
tice, and State, the Judiciary, and related agen-
cies.
‘‘(C) The Department of Defense.
‘‘(D) The government of the District of
Columbia and other activities chargeable in
whole or in part against the revenues of the
District.
‘‘(E) The Departments of Labor, Health
and Human Services, and Education, and relat-
ed agencies.
‘‘(F) The Department of Housing and
Urban Development, and sundry independent
agencies, boards, commissions, corporations,
and offices.
‘‘(G) Energy and water development.
‘‘(H) Foreign assistance and related pro-
grams.
‘‘(I) The Department of the Interior and
related agencies.
‘‘(J) Military construction.
‘‘(K) The Department of Transportation
and related agencies.
‘‘(L) The Treasury Department, the U.S.
Postal Service, the Executive Office of the
President, and certain independent agencies.
‘‘(M) The legislative branch.
‘‘(2) The term ‘continuing resolution’ means
any joint resolution making continuing appropria-
tions for all or part of any fiscal year.’’.
SEC. 2. CONFORMING AMENDMENT.
The analysis of chapter 13 of title 31, United States
Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to
section 1310 the following new item:
‘‘1311. Continuing appropriations.’’.
SEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.
The amendments made by this Act shall apply to fis-
cal years beginning after September 30, 1997.
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