text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Strengthening Homeland Security, 
  Intelligence, and Essential Law Enforcement Departments Act of 2011'' 
  or the ``SHIELD Act of 2011''.
  
  SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
  
      Congress finds the following:
              (1) The United States Armed Forces represent the finest 
          fighting force in the world.
              (2) An interruption in compensation could affect morale and 
          cause hardship which would threaten United States security and 
          the safety of our troops.
              (3) It is a vital national interest that the United States 
          Armed Forces, including reserve components, can operate with 
          the assurance that they will continue to receive pay and 
          allowances for their service if a funding gap occurs.
              (4) Federal law enforcement officers are highly trained and 
          dedicated men and women, committed to protecting liberty, 
          public safety, and the security of our Nation from both foreign 
          and domestic threats.
              (5) They have no equal in the private sector, and perform a 
          role that is both unique and vital to the continuing operation 
          of the Federal Government and commerce during times of crisis.
              (6) Each and every day, Federal law enforcement officers 
          are engaged around the clock in activities that include, but 
          are not limited to, dignitary protection, criminal 
          investigation, homeland security, border security, intelligence 
          gathering, and fighting waste, fraud and abuse.
              (7) These critical Government functions cannot be 
          interrupted due to an absence of Congressional appropriations 
          or during periods of a Government shutdown, nor can we expect 
          that the threats posed by violent criminals, terrorists and 
          America's enemies will lessen during such periods of fiscal 
          uncertainty.
  
  SEC. 3. PRIORITY PAYMENTS IF THE DEBT CEILING IS REACHED FOR DEFENSE 
                AND FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT.
  
      In the event that the total public debt reaches the public debt 
  limit, as established under section 3101 of title 31, United States 
  Code, the following payments on obligations incurred by the Government 
  of the United States shall be made:
              (1) The pay and allowances of members of the Army, Navy, 
          Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, including reserve 
          components thereof, who perform active service.
              (2) The pay and allowances of critical law enforcement 
          officers who are employed by Federal agencies.
  
  SEC. 4. EMERGENCY APPROPRIATIONS OF FUNDS FOR DEFENSE AND FEDERAL LAW 
                ENFORCEMENT DURING A FUNDING GAP.
  
      (a) Appropriation of Funds for Military Pay and Allowances.--During 
  a period of lapsed appropriations for the Armed Forces, the Secretary 
  of the Treasury shall make available to the Secretary of Defense (and 
  the Secretary of Homeland Security in the case of the Coast Guard), out 
  of any amounts in the general fund of the Treasury not otherwise 
  appropriated, such amounts as the Secretary of Defense (and the 
  Secretary of Homeland Security in the case of the Coast Guard) 
  determines to be necessary to continue to provide pay and allowances 
  (without interruption) to members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine 
  Corps, and Coast Guard, including reserve components thereof, who 
  perform active service during the period of lapsed appropriations.
      (b) Appropriation of Funds for Federal Law Enforcement Officer Pay 
  and Allowances.--During a period of lapsed appropriations for a federal 
  agency that employs critical law enforcement officers, the Secretary of 
  the Treasury shall make available to the head of such agency, out of 
  any amounts in the general fund of the Treasury not otherwise 
  appropriated, such amounts as the heads of such agencies determine to 
  be necessary to continue to provide pay and allowances (without 
  interruption) to such critical law enforcement officers during the 
  period of lapsed appropriations.
  
  SEC. 5. DEFINITIONS.
  
      In this Act:
              (1) Critical law enforcement officer.--The term ``critical 
          law enforcement officer'' means an employee--
                      (A) who has statutory authority to make arrests or 
                  apprehensions;
                      (B) who is authorized by the agency of the employee 
                  to carry firearms; and
                      (C) whose duties include performing emergency work 
                  involving the safety of human life or the protection of 
                  property.
              (2) Period of lapsed appropriations.--The term ``period of 
          lapsed appropriations'' means any period during which 
          appropriations are not available due to the absence of the 
          timely enactment of any Act or joint resolution (including any 
          Act or joint resolution making continuing appropriations) 
          appropriating funds for the payment of the pay and allowances.
              (3) Total public debt.--The term ``total public debt'' has 
          the meaning given such term in section 3130 of title 31, United 
          States Code.
target: Strengthening Homeland Security, Intelligence, and Essential Law Enforcement Departments Act of 2011 or SHIELD Act of 2011 - Requires, in the event that the U.S. public debt limit is reached, priority payment of the pay and allowances of: (1) members of the Armed Forces, including reserves, who perform active service; and (2) critical law enforcement officers employed by federal agencies.
  
  Requires the Secretary of the Treasury, during a period of lapsed appropriations for the Armed Forces or federal agencies employing critical law enforcement officers, to make available necessary amounts to continue such pay and allowances.
feat_title: To prioritize the payment of pay and allowances to members of the Armed Forces and Federal law enforcement officers in the event the debt ceiling is reached or there is a funding gap.