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 auto-
matic continuing resolutions for the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs. 
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 ‘‘Veterans Affairs Pro-
tection Act of 2019’’. 
SEC. 2. AUTOMATIC CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS FOR 
THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 13 of title 31, United 
States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1310 
the following new section: 
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‘‘SEC. 1311. CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE DE-
PARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 
‘‘(a)(1) If an appropriation for an account under the 
heading ‘Department of Veterans Affairs’ for a fiscal year 
is not enacted before the beginning of such fiscal year or 
a joint resolution making continuing appropriations is not 
in effect, there are appropriated such sums as may be nec-
essary to continue any program, project, or activity for 
which funds were provided under such heading in the pre-
ceding fiscal year— 
‘‘(A) in the corresponding appropriation Act for 
such preceding fiscal year; or 
‘‘(B) if the corresponding appropriation bill for 
such preceding fiscal year did not become law, then 
in a joint resolution making continuing appropria-
tions for such preceding fiscal year. 
‘‘(2)(A) Appropriations and funds made available, 
and authority granted, for a program, project, or activity 
for any fiscal year pursuant to this section shall be at a 
rate of operations not in excess of the lower of— 
‘‘(i) 100 percent of the rate of operations pro-
vided for in the regular appropriation Act providing 
for such program, project, or activity for the pre-
ceding fiscal year; 
‘‘(ii) in the absence of such an Act, 100 percent 
of the rate of operations provided for such program, 
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project, or activity pursuant to a joint resolution 
making continuing appropriations for such preceding 
fiscal year; or 
‘‘(iii) 100 percent of the annualized rate of op-
erations provided for in the most recently enacted 
joint resolution making continuing appropriations 
for part of that fiscal year or any funding levels es-
tablished under the provisions of this Act. 
‘‘(B) If this section is in effect at the end of a fiscal 
year, funding levels shall continue as provided in this sec-
tion for the next fiscal year. 
‘‘(3) Appropriations and funds made available, and 
authority granted, for any fiscal year pursuant to this sec-
tion for a program, project, or activity shall be available 
for the period beginning with the first day of a lapse in 
appropriations and ending with the date on which the ap-
plicable regular appropriation bill for such fiscal year be-
comes law (whether or not such law provides for such pro-
gram, project, or activity) or a continuing resolution mak-
ing appropriations becomes law, as the case may be. 
‘‘(b) An appropriation or funds made available, or au-
thority granted, for a program, project, or activity for any 
fiscal year pursuant to this section shall be subject to the 
terms and conditions imposed with respect to the appro-
priation made or funds made available for the preceding 
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fiscal year, or authority granted for such program, project, 
or activity under current law. 
‘‘(c) Expenditures made for a program, project, or 
activity for any fiscal year pursuant to this section shall 
be charged to the applicable appropriation, fund, or au-
thorization whenever a regular appropriation bill or a joint 
resolution making continuing appropriations until the end 
of a fiscal year providing for such program, project, or 
activity for such period becomes law. 
‘‘(d) This section shall not apply to a program, 
project, or activity during a fiscal year if any other provi-
sion of law (other than an authorization of appropria-
tions)— 
‘‘(1) makes an appropriation, makes funds 
available, or grants authority for such program, 
project, or activity 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 program, 
project, or activity to continue for such period.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
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 for the Department of Veterans Affairs.’’. 
Æ 
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