H.R. 5542: End Government Shutdowns Act

The End Government Shutdowns Act aims to amend federal appropriations processes to ensure that government operations can continue without interruption. Below are the key points of what this legislation proposes:

Automatic Continuing Appropriations

The bill introduces a new provision for automatic continuing appropriations, which means that if Congress fails to pass a new budget or continuing resolution before the start of a fiscal year, funding will automatically be provided to continue programs, projects, or activities at levels established in the prior fiscal year. This is intended to prevent government shutdowns that occur when appropriations are not enacted in time.

Rate of Operations

Under this legislation, funding would operate at a rate that is not more than:

• 99% of the funding rate established in the prior year's appropriations for that program, project, or activity.
• If there is no prior year's appropriations, then it would be based on a previous continuing resolution.
• For any operation in the first 30 days of lapse in appropriations, and funding would reduce by 1 percentage point for each subsequent 30-day period.

Duration and Conditions of Funding

Funds appropriated under this act would continue until a new appropriations bill is passed or until a continuing resolution is approved. This is intended to provide a seamless transition and avoid lapses in funding that lead to government shutdowns.

Limitations and Exemptions

The new provisions would not affect programs, projects, or activities if:

• Other laws provide for continued funding.
• Specific prohibitions are stated against funding continuing into that period.

Clerical Amendments

The bill also includes a clerical amendment to update the legal code, ensuring that the new provisions are properly documented within federal law.

Overall Purpose

The primary goal of the End Government Shutdowns Act is to create a framework that allows for continuous funding for federal activities, thereby minimizing the risk of government shutdowns and the disruption they cause. This legislation is directed towards ensuring governmental stability and uninterrupted delivery of services to the public.

Relevant Companies

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