I 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1177 
To provide for continuing appropriations in the event of a lapse in appropria-
tions under the normal appropriations process, other than for the legisla-
tive branch and the Executive Office of the President. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 13, 2019 
Ms. SPANBERGER (for herself, Ms. SHALALA, and Mr. BROWN of Maryland) 
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ap-
propriations 
A BILL 
To provide for continuing appropriations in the event of 
a lapse in appropriations under the normal appropria-
tions process, other than for the legislative branch and 
the Executive Office of the President. 
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 ‘‘Stop the Shutdowns 
Transferring Unnecessary Pain and Inflicting Damage In 
The coming Years Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. AUTOMATIC CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 13 of title 31, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘§ 1311. Automatic continuing appropriations 
‘‘(a) In this section, the term ‘excluded account’ 
means an appropriation account— 
‘‘(1) for any agency, office, or other entity in or 
under the legislative branch; or 
‘‘(2) for any agency, office, or other entity in or 
under the Executive Office of the President. 
‘‘(b)(1)(A) If an appropriation Act for a fiscal year 
with respect to the account for a program, project, or ac-
tivity has not been enacted and continuing appropriations 
are not in effect during any period during such fiscal year 
with respect to the program, project, or activity, there are 
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to continue, 
at the rate for operations specified in subparagraph (B), 
the program, project, or activity if — 
‘‘(i) the program, project, or activity is not 
funded under an excluded account; and 
‘‘(ii) funds were provided for the program, 
project, or activity during the preceding fiscal year. 
‘‘(B) The rate for operations specified in this sub-
paragraph with respect to a program, project, or activ-
ity— 
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‘‘(i) is the rate for operations for the preceding 
fiscal year for the program, project, or activity— 
‘‘(I) provided in the corresponding appro-
priation Act for such preceding fiscal year; or 
‘‘(II) if the corresponding appropriation 
bill for such preceding fiscal year was not en-
acted, provided in the law providing continuing 
appropriations for such preceding fiscal year; or 
‘‘(ii) if the corresponding appropriation bill and 
a law providing continuing appropriations for such 
preceding fiscal year were not enacted, is the rate 
for operations for the preceding fiscal year for the 
program, project, or activity provided under this sec-
tion for such preceding fiscal year, as increased by 
the percentage increase, if any, in the gross domestic 
product for the calendar year ending during such 
preceding fiscal year as compared to the gross do-
mestic product for the calendar year before such cal-
endar year. 
‘‘(2) 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 any lapse 
in appropriations during such fiscal year and ending with 
the date on which the applicable regular appropriation bill 
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for such fiscal year is enacted (whether or not such law 
provides appropriations for such program, project, or ac-
tivity) or a law making continuing appropriations for the 
program, project, or activity is enacted, as the case may 
be. 
‘‘(c) 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. 
‘‘(d) 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 Act, or a law 
making continuing appropriations until the end of such 
fiscal year, for such program, project, or activity is en-
acted. 
‘‘(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)— 
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‘‘(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 
for chapter 13 of title 31, United States Code, is amended 
by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘1311. Automatic continuing appropriations.’’. 
Æ 
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