I 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 5543 
To amend title 31, United States Code, to provide for automatic continuing 
resolutions. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 18, 2023 
Ms. MACE 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. 
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 of 2023’’. 
SEC. 2. AUTOMATIC CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS. 
(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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‘‘(ii) in the absence of such an Act, 99 percent 
of the rate of operations provided for such program, 
project, or activity pursuant to a law making con-
tinuing appropriations for such preceding fiscal year; 
or 
‘‘(iii) 99 percent of the annualized rate of oper-
ations provided for in the most recently enacted law 
making continuing appropriations for part of that 
fiscal year or any funding levels established under 
the provisions of this section, 
for the period of 90 days. After the first 90-day period 
during which this subsection is in effect for that fiscal 
year, the applicable rate of operations shall be reduced by 
1 percentage point. For each subsequent 90-day period 
during which this subsection is in effect for that fiscal 
year, the applicable rate of operations shall be reduced by 
1 percentage point. The 90-day period reductions shall ex-
tend beyond the last day of that fiscal year. 
‘‘(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 
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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 
fiscal year, or authority granted for such program, project, 
or activity under current law. 
‘‘(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this sec-
tion, for those programs, projects, or activities that would 
otherwise have high initial rates of operation or complete 
distribution of appropriations at the beginning of a fiscal 
year for which funding is made available under this section 
because of distributions of funding to States, foreign coun-
tries, grantees, or others, such high initial rates of oper-
ation or complete distribution shall not be made, and no 
grants shall be awarded for such programs, projects, or 
activities funded by this section that would impinge on 
final funding prerogatives. 
‘‘(d) Expenditures made for a program, project, or 
activity for any fiscal year pursuant to this section shall 
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be charged to the applicable appropriation, fund, or au-
thorization whenever a regular appropriation bill or a 
measure making continuing appropriations until the end 
of a fiscal year providing for such program, project, or 
activity for such period becomes law. 
‘‘(e) 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.’’. 
Æ 
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