I
103D CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 675
To amend title 31, United States Code, to provide an automatic continuing
appropriation for the United States Government.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JANUARY 27, 1993
Mr. GEKAS introduced the following bill; which was referred jointly to the
Committees on Appropriations and Rules
A BILL
To amend title 31, United States Code, to provide an auto-
matic continuing appropriation for the United States
Government.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. AUTOMATIC CONTINUING RESOLUTION.
(a) IN GENERAL.—
(1) Chapter 13 of title 31, United States Code,
is amended by inserting after section 1310 the fol-
lowing 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, there is appropriated, out of any moneys in
the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, and out of appli-
cable 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, pursuant to this section.
‘‘(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 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, or
‘‘(B) in the absence of such an Act, the rate of
operations provided for such project or activity pur-
suant to this section for such preceding fiscal year.
‘‘(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 such fiscal year 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), and
‘‘(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, funds made available, or authority granted for such
project or activity for the preceding fiscal year.
‘‘(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.
‘‘(d) Expenditures made for a project or activity for
any fiscal year pursuant to this section shall be charged
to the applicable appropriation, fund, or authorization
whenever a regular appropriation bill providing for such
project or activity for such period becomes law.
‘‘(e) No appropriation is made by reason of subpara-
graph (B) of subsection (a)(1) for a fiscal year for any
project or activity for which there is no authorization of
appropriations for such fiscal year.
‘‘(f) This section shall not apply to a project or activ-
ity during a fiscal year if any other provision of law (other
than an authorization of appropriations)—
‘‘(1) makes an appropriation, makes funds
available, or grants authority for such project or ac-
tivity 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 project or ac-
tivity to continue for such period.
‘‘(g) For purposes of this section ‘regular appropria-
tion bill’ means any regular appropriation bill (within the
meaning given to such term in section 307 of the Congres-
sional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 638)) making appro-
priations, otherwise making funds available, or granting
authority, for any of the following categories of projects
and activities:
‘‘(1) Agriculture, rural development, and relat-
ed 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 Colum-
bia 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 Department of Housing and Urban
Development, and sundry independent agencies,
boards, commissions, corporations, and offices.
‘‘(7) Energy and water development.
‘‘(8) Foreign assistance and related programs.
‘‘(9) The Department of the Interior and relat-
ed agencies.
‘‘(10) Military construction.
‘‘(11) The Department of Transportation and
related agencies.
‘‘(12) The Treasury Department, the U.S.
Postal Service, the Executive Office of the President,
and certain independent agencies.
‘‘(13) The legislative branch.’’.
(2) The analysis of chapter 13 of title 31, Unit-
ed States Code, is amended by inserting after the
item relating to section 1310 the following new item:
‘‘1311. Continuing appropriations.’’.
(3) The amendments made by this subsection
shall apply with respect to fiscal years beginning
after September 30, 1993.
(b) POINT OF ORDER AGAINST CONTINUING RESO-
LUTIONS.—
(1) It shall not be in order in the House of
Representatives or the Senate to consider or to vote
on the question of agreeing to any bill or joint reso-
lution making continuing appropriations for a fiscal
year or any conference report thereon.
(2) Paragraph (1) may be waived or suspended
in the Senate by a vote of three-fifths of the Mem-
bers, duly chosen and sworn.
(3) If the ruling of the presiding officer sus-
tains a point of order raised pursuant to paragraph
(1), a vote of three-fifths of the Members duly cho-
sen and sworn shall be required to sustain an appeal
of such ruling. Debate on any such appeal shall be
limited to two hours, to be equally divided between,
and controlled by, the majority leader and the mi-
nority leader or their designees. An appeal of any
such point of order is not subject to a motion to
table.
Æ