Stop the Shutdowns Transferring Unnecessary Pain and Inflicting Damage In The coming Years Act
Bill: S.2892 | Sponsor: Sen. Warner, Mark R. (D-VA)
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance

Summary:
Stop the Shutdowns Transferring Unnecessary Pain and Inflicting Damage In The coming Years Act
This bill provides continuing appropriations to certain federal agencies to prevent a government shutdown if an appropriations bill for the agency has not been enacted before the fiscal year begins and continuing appropriations are not in effect.
The bill excludes agencies within or under the legislative branch or the Executive Office of the President, which would continue to be subject to a government shutdown due to a lapse in appropriations.

To provide for continuing appropriations in the event of a lapse in 
appropriations under the normal appropriations process, other than for 
   the legislative branch and the Executive Office of the President.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 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''.

SEC. 2. AUTOMATIC CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 13 of title 31, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 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 activity 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 subparagraph with 
respect to a program, project, or activity--
            ``(i) is the rate for operations for the preceding fiscal 
        year for the program, project, or activity--
                    ``(I) provided in the corresponding appropriation 
                Act for such preceding fiscal year; or
                    ``(II) if the corresponding appropriation bill for 
                such preceding fiscal year was not enacted, 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 section 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 domestic product 
        for the calendar year before such calendar year.
    ``(2) Appropriations and funds made available, and authority 
granted, for any fiscal year pursuant to this section 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 for such fiscal year is enacted (whether or not such law provides 
appropriations for such program, project, or activity) 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 authority 
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 appropriation 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 authorization 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 enacted.
    ``(e) This section shall not apply to a program, project, or 
activity 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 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.''.
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