Bill > HR3583

This bill, titled the Government Shutdown Prevention Act of 2011, proposes to amend federal law to automatically continue funding for government programs and activities if Congress fails to pass regular appropriation bills or a continuing resolution by the start of a new fiscal year, thereby preventing a government shutdown. Specifically, it would insert a new section into Title 31 of the U.S. Code that automatically appropriates necessary funds to continue programs and activities that were funded in the preceding fiscal year. This funding would generally be set at 99% of the previous year's level for the first three months, with a one percentage point reduction for each subsequent three-month period, and would cease once a regular appropriation bill or a new continuing resolution is enacted or at the end of the fiscal year. The bill also includes provisions to ensure that these continuing appropriations are subject to the same terms and conditions as the original funding and that any expenditures are charged to the eventual enacted appropriation.