119-hr5542

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5542 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

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119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 H. R. 5542

 To amend title 31, United States Code, to provide for automatic 
 continuous appropriations, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 September 23, 2025

 Mr. Barr introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
 Committee on Appropriations

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

 To amend title 31, United States Code, to provide for automatic 
 continuous appropriations, and for other purposes.

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

Sec. 1. Short title
 This Act may be cited as the ``End Government Shutdowns 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 necessary 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 appropriations for 
 such preceding fiscal year.
 ``

    (2)
        (A) Appropriations 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 
 operations not in excess of the lower of--
 ``
            (i) 99 percent of the rate of operations 
 provided for in the regular appropriation Act 
 providing for such program, 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 continuing 
 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 Act, for the period of 30 
 days. After the first 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. 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 extend beyond the last 
 day of that fiscal year.
 ``
        (B) If this section is in effect at the end of a 
 fiscal year, funding levels shall continue as provided 
 in this section for the next fiscal year.
 ``

    (3) 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 a lapse in 
 appropriations and ending with the date on which the applicable 
 regular appropriation bill for such fiscal year becomes law 
 (whether or not such law provides for such program, project, or 
 activity) or a continuing resolution making appropriations 
 becomes law, as the case may be.
 ``

    (b) 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.
 ``
            (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 authorization whenever a regular appropriation 
bill or a joint 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 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 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.
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