Bill > S784

This bill, titled the Preventing a Government Shutdown Act, proposes to amend Title 31 of the United States Code to establish a system of automatic continuing appropriations. Essentially, if Congress fails to pass regular appropriation bills, which are the annual bills that fund government operations, or a joint resolution making continuing appropriations, which is a temporary measure to keep the government funded, before the start of a new fiscal year, this bill would automatically provide the necessary funds. These automatic appropriations would be at a rate of operations no higher than what was provided in the previous fiscal year, and they would remain in effect until either a regular appropriation bill or a continuing resolution is enacted, or until the end of the fiscal year. This mechanism is designed to prevent a government shutdown by ensuring that essential government projects and activities continue to be funded even if Congress misses its deadlines. The bill specifies that these automatic funds would not cover new initiatives but would maintain ongoing operations, and they would be charged to the applicable appropriation once a regular funding bill is passed.