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106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 142
To prevent Government shutdowns.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JANUARY 6, 1999
Mr. GEKAS (for himself, Mr. ROHRABACHER, Mr. WYNN, Mr. COX, Mr.
ISTOOK, Mr. PITTS, Mr. EHLERS, Mr. DAVIS of Virginia, and Mr.
HAYWORTH) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Appropriations
A BILL
To prevent Government shutdowns.
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. CONTINUING FUNDING.
(a) If any regular appropriation bill for fiscal year
2000 does not become law prior to the beginning of fiscal
year 2000 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
program, project, or activity for which funds were provided
in fiscal year 1999.
(b) Appropriations and funds made available, and au-
thority granted, for a program, project, or activity for fis-
cal year 2000 pursuant to this Act shall be at 100 per
cent of the rate of operations that was provided for the
program, project, or activity in fiscal year 1999 in the cor-
responding regular appropriation Act for fiscal year 1999.
(c) Appropriations and funds made available, and au-
thority granted, for fiscal year 2000 pursuant to this Act
for a program, project, or activity shall be available for
the period beginning with the first day of a lapse in appro-
priations and ending with the earlier of—
(1) the date on which the applicable regular ap-
propriation bill for fiscal year 2000 becomes law
(whether or not that law provides for that program,
project, or activity) or a continuing resolution mak-
ing appropriations becomes law, as the case may be;
or
(2) the last day of fiscal year 2000.
SEC. 3. TERMS AND CONDITIONS.
(a) An appropriation of funds made available, or au-
thority granted, for a program, project, or activity for fis-
cal year 2000 pursuant to this Act shall be made available
to the extent and in the manner which would be provided
by the pertinent appropriations Act for fiscal year 1999,
including all of the terms and conditions and the appor-
tionment schedule imposed with respect to the appropria-
tion made or funds made available for fiscal year 1999
or authority granted for the program, project, or activity
under current law.
(b) Appropriations made by this Act shall be available
to the extent and in the manner which would be provided
by the pertinent appropriations Act.
SEC. 4. COVERAGE.
Appropriations and funds made available, and au-
thority granted, for any program, project, or activity for
fiscal year 2000 pursuant to this Act shall cover all obliga-
tions or expenditures incurred for that program, project,
or activity during the portion of fiscal year 2000 for which
this Act applies to that program, project, or activity.
SEC. 5. EXPENDITURES.
Expenditures made for a program, project, or activity
for fiscal year 2000 pursuant to this Act shall be charged
to the applicable appropriation, fund, or authorization
whenever a regular appropriation bill or a joint resolution
making continuing appropriations until the end of fiscal
year 2000 providing for that program, project, or activity
for that period becomes law.
SEC. 6. INITIATING OR RESUMING A PROGRAM, PROJECT,
OR ACTIVITY.
No appropriation or funds made available or author-
ity granted pursuant to this Act shall be used to initiate
or resume any program, project, or activity for which ap-
propriations, funds, or other authority were not available
during fiscal year 1999.
SEC. 7. PROTECTION OF OTHER OBLIGATIONS.
Nothing in this Act shall be construed to effect Gov-
ernment obligations mandated by other law, including obli-
gations with respect to Social Security, Medicare, Medic-
aid, and veterans benefits.
SEC. 8. DEFINITION.
In this Act, the term ‘‘regular appropriation bill’’
means any annual appropriation bill making appropria-
tions, otherwise making funds available, or granting au-
thority, for any of the following categories of programs,
projects, and activities:
(1) Agriculture, rural development, and related
agencies programs.
(2) The Departments of Commerce, Justice,
and State, the judiciary, and related agencies.
(3) The Department of Defense.
(4) The government of the District of Columbia
and other activities chargeable in whole or in part
against the revenues of the District.
(5) The Departments of Labor, Health and
Human Services, and Education, and related agen-
cies.
(6) The Departments of Veterans Affairs and
Housing and Urban Development, and sundry inde-
pendent agencies, boards, commissions, corporations,
and offices.
(7) Energy and water development.
(8) Foreign assistance and related programs.
(9) The Department of the Interior and related
agencies.
(10) Military construction.
(11) The Department of Transportation and re-
lated agencies.
(12) The Treasury Department, the U.S. Postal
Service, the Executive Office of the President, and
certain independent agencies.
(13) The legislative branch.
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