I
105TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 638
To amend title 31, United States Code, to provide for continuing
appropriations in the absence of regular appropriations.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FEBRUARY 6, 1997
Mr. GEKAS (for himself, Mr. ROHRABACHER, Mr. ISTOOK, Mr. HANSEN, Mr.
COX of California, Mr. WOLF, Mr. DAVIS of Virginia, Mrs. MORELLA,
Mr. GILCHREST, Mr. HAYWORTH, Mr. BEREUTER, Mr. EHLERS, and Mr.
HORN) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee
on Appropriations
A BILL
To amend title 31, United States Code, to provide for con-
tinuing appropriations in the absence of regular appro-
priations.
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 ‘‘Government Shutdown
Prevention Act’’.
SEC. 2. AMENDMENT TO TITLE 31.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 13 of title 31, United
States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1310
the following new section:
‘‘§ 1311. Continuing appropriations
‘‘(a)(1) If any regular appropriation bill for a fiscal
year does not become law prior to the beginning of such
fiscal year or a joint resolution making continuing appro-
priations is not in effect, 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 for such preceding fiscal year; or
‘‘(B) if the corresponding regular appropriation
bill for such preceding fiscal year did not become
law, then in a joint resolution making continuing ap-
propriations for such preceding fiscal year.
‘‘(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 75 percent of the lower of—
‘‘(A) the rate of operations provided for in the
regular appropriation Act providing for such project
or activity for the preceding fiscal year,
‘‘(B) in the absence of such an Act, the rate of
operations provided for such project or activity pur-
suant to a joint resolution making continuing appro-
priations for such preceding fiscal year,
‘‘(C) the rate of operations provided for in the
House or Senate passed appropriation bill for the
fiscal year in question, except that the lower of these
two versions shall be ignored for any project or ac-
tivity for which there is a budget request if no fund-
ing is provided for that project or activity in either
version,
‘‘(D) the rate provided in the budget submis-
sion of the President under section 1105(a) of title
31, United States Code, for the fiscal year in ques-
tion, or
‘‘(E) the annualized rate of operations provided
for in the most recently enacted joint resolution
making continuing appropriations for part of that
fiscal year or any funding levels established under
the provisions of this Act.
‘‘(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 a lapse in appropria-
tions and ending with the earlier of—
‘‘(A) the date on which the applicable regular
appropriation bill for such fiscal year becomes law
(whether or not such law provides for such project
or activity) or a continuing resolution making appro-
priations becomes law, as the case may be, or
‘‘(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
or funds made available for the preceding fiscal year, or
authority granted for such project or activity under cur-
rent law.
‘‘(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.