Bill > HR5552

This bill, called the "Eliminate Shutdowns Act," provides a mechanism for automatic continuing appropriations to prevent government shutdowns by establishing a new process for funding federal programs during lapses in appropriations. Under the proposed law, if Congress fails to pass a full-year appropriation act for a specific program, project, or activity, funding will automatically continue at the previous year's rate for 14-day periods. The bill allows agency heads to transfer up to 5% of funds between appropriation accounts with OMB approval, prioritizing higher-priority activities, and prohibits initiating or resuming programs that were specifically defunded in the previous fiscal year. The automatic continuing appropriations will not apply if another law specifically prohibits funding for a program or if alternative funding mechanisms exist. The bill also includes provisions for how these automatic appropriations will be classified for budgetary scoring purposes, ensuring they are treated as discretionary spending and considered part-year appropriations. The provisions of this act would take effect on September 30, 2025, providing a future mechanism to prevent potential government shutdowns by ensuring basic government functions continue even if Congress fails to pass timely appropriations bills.

Budget and Finance

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/5552/all-info