I 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1178 
To amend title 31, United States Code, to provide for automatic continuing 
appropriations, to withhold the pay of Members of Congress during 
any period in which such automatic continuing appropriations are in 
effect, to prohibit the use of funds for the official travel of Members 
of Congress during any period in which such automatic continuing appro-
priations are in effect, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 13, 2019 
Mr. SPANO (for himself and Mr. WALTZ) introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on Appropriations, and in addition to the 
Committee on House Administration, for a period to be subsequently de-
termined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions 
as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To amend title 31, United States Code, to provide for auto-
matic continuing appropriations, to withhold the pay of 
Members of Congress during any period in which such 
automatic continuing appropriations are in effect, to pro-
hibit the use of funds for the official travel of Members 
of Congress during any period in which such automatic 
continuing appropriations are in effect, and for other 
purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:26 Feb 26, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1178.IH
H1178
pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Deadline Enforcement 
Act’’. 
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: 
‘‘SEC. 1311. CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS. 
‘‘(a)(1) If any appropriation measure 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 in the preceding 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) Except as provided in subparagraph (C), ap-
propriations 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 oper-
ations not in excess of the lower of— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:26 Feb 26, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1178.IH
H1178
pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
‘‘(i) 99 percent of the rate of operations provided for 
in the regular appropriation Act providing for such pro-
gram, project, or activity for the preceding fiscal year; 
‘‘(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 joint resolution making con-
tinuing appropriations for such preceding fiscal year; or 
‘‘(iii) 99 percent of 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 section. 
‘‘(B) Except as provided in subparagraph (C), after 
the first 30-day period during which this subsection is in 
effect for that fiscal year, the applicable rate of operations 
as provided under subparagraph (A) shall be reduced by 
1 percentage point. For each subsequent 30-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 30-day period reductions shall ex-
tend beyond the last day of that fiscal year. 
‘‘(C) The reductions provided by subparagraphs (A) 
and (B) shall not apply to any discretionary appropriation 
in budget function 050 made available pursuant to this 
section. Clause (i), (ii), or (iii) (as the case may be) of 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:26 Feb 26, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1178.IH
H1178
pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
subparagraph (A) shall be applied to any such appropria-
tion by substituting ‘100 percent’ for ‘99 percent’. 
‘‘(D) 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 
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 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:26 Feb 26, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1178.IH
H1178
pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
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.’’. 
SEC. 3. PROHIBITING PAYING MEMBERS OF CONGRESS 
WHILE 
AUTOMATIC 
CONTINUING 
APPRO-
PRIATIONS ARE IN EFFECT. 
(a) RULE FOR ONE HUNDRED SIXTEENTH CON-
GRESS.— 
(1) HOLDING SALARIES IN ESCROW.—If a pay 
period occurs during the One Hundred Sixteenth 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:26 Feb 26, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1178.IH
H1178
pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
Congress during the period described in paragraph 
(2), the payroll administrator of each House of Con-
gress shall— 
(A) deposit in an escrow account and ex-
clude from the payments otherwise required to 
be made with respect to that pay period for the 
compensation of each Member of Congress who 
serves in that House of Congress an amount 
equal to the product of— 
(i) the daily rate of pay of the Mem-
ber under section 601(a) of the Legislative 
Reorganization Act of 1946 (2 U.S.C. 
4501); and 
(ii) the number of 24-hour periods 
during the pay period; and 
(B) release amounts deposited in an es-
crow account under subparagraph (A) to such 
Member of Congress only upon the expiration of 
the period described in paragraph (2). 
(2) PERIOD DESCRIBED.—The period described 
in this paragraph is the period that— 
(A) begins on the 1st day on which appro-
priations and funds are made available pursu-
ant to section 1311 of title 31, United States 
Code (as added by section 2(a)); and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:26 Feb 26, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1178.IH
H1178
pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
(B) ends on the earlier of— 
(i) the date on which appropriations 
and funds are no longer made available 
pursuant to section 1311 of such title; or 
(ii) the last day of the One Hundred 
Sixteenth Congress. 
(3) 
WITHHOLDING
AND
REMITTANCE
OF 
AMOUNTS FROM PAYMENTS HELD IN ESCROW.—The 
payroll administrator of each House of Congress 
shall provide for the same withholding and remit-
tance with respect to a payment deposited in an es-
crow account under paragraph (1) that would apply 
to the payment if the payment were not subject to 
paragraph (1). 
(4) RELEASE OF AMOUNTS AT END OF THE 
CONGRESS.—In order to ensure that this subsection 
is carried out in a manner that shall not vary the 
compensation of Senators or Representatives in vio-
lation of the twenty-seventh amendment to the Con-
stitution of the United States, the payroll adminis-
trator of a House of Congress shall release for pay-
ment to Members of that House of Congress any 
amounts remaining in any escrow account under this 
section on the last day of the One Hundred Six-
teenth Congress. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:26 Feb 26, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1178.IH
H1178
pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
(b) SUBSEQUENT CONGRESSES.— 
(1) REDUCTION IN SALARIES.—If a pay period 
occurs during the One Hundred Seventeenth Con-
gress or any succeeding Congress during the period 
described in paragraph (2), the payroll administrator 
of each House of Congress shall exclude from the 
payments otherwise required to be made with re-
spect to that pay period for the compensation of 
each Member of Congress who serves in that House 
of Congress an amount equal to the product of— 
(A) the daily rate of pay of the Member 
under section 601(a) of the Legislative Reorga-
nization Act of 1946 (2 U.S.C. 4501); and 
(B) the number of 24-hour periods during 
the pay period. 
(2) PERIOD DESCRIBED.—The period described 
in this paragraph is the period that— 
(A) begins on the 1st day on which appro-
priations and funds are made available pursu-
ant to section 1311 of title 31, United States 
Code (as added by section 2(a)); and 
(B) ends on the date on which appropria-
tions and funds are no longer made available 
pursuant to section 1311 of such title. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:26 Feb 26, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1178.IH
H1178
pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
(c) ROLE OF SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY.—The 
Secretary of the Treasury shall provide the payroll admin-
istrator of each House of Congress with such assistance 
as may be necessary to enable the payroll administrator 
to carry out this section. 
(d) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘‘payroll 
administrator’’, with respect to a House of Congress, 
means— 
(1) in the case of the House of Representatives, 
the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of 
Representatives, or an employee of the Office of the 
Chief Administrative Officer who is designated by 
the Chief Administrative Officer to carry out this 
section; and 
(2) in the case of the Senate, the Secretary of 
the Senate, or an employee of the Office of the Sec-
retary of the Senate who is designated by the Sec-
retary to carry out this section. 
SEC. 4. PROHIBITING USE OF FUNDS FOR TRAVEL BY MEM-
BERS OF CONGRESS WHILE AUTOMATIC CON-
TINUING APPROPRIATIONS ARE IN EFFECT. 
(a) PROHIBITION.—During the period described in 
subsection (b), no appropriated funds, including official 
funds of the House of Representatives, official funds of 
the Senate, or funds available under any Federal law, rule, 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:26 Feb 26, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1178.IH
H1178
pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
or regulation, may be used to pay for the costs of travel 
by a Member of Congress. 
(b) PERIOD DESCRIBED.—The period described in 
this paragraph is the period that— 
(1) begins on the 1st day on which appropria-
tions and funds are made available pursuant to sec-
tion 1311 of title 31, United States Code (as added 
by section 2(a)); and 
(2) ends on the date on which appropriations 
and funds are no longer made available pursuant to 
section 1311 of such title. 
SEC. 5. MEMBER OF CONGRESS DEFINED. 
In this Act, the term ‘‘Member of Congress’’ means 
a Senator or a Representative in, or Delegate or Resident 
Commissioner to, the Congress. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:26 Feb 26, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H1178.IH
H1178
pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS