text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Government Shutdown Prevention 
  Act''.
  
  SEC. 2. AMENDMENT TO TITLE 31.
  
      (a) In General.--Chapter 13 of title 31, United States Code, is 
  amended by inserting after section 1310 the following new section:
  ``Sec. 1311. Continuing appropriations
      ``(a)(1) If any regular appropriation bill for a fiscal year (or, 
  if applicable, for each fiscal year in a biennium) does not become law 
  before the beginning of such fiscal year or a joint resolution making 
  continuing appropriations is not in effect, there are appropriated, out 
  of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, and out of 
  applicable corporate or other revenues, receipts, and funds, such sums 
  as may be necessary to continue any project or activity for which funds 
  were provided in the preceding fiscal year--
              ``(A) in the corresponding regular appropriation Act for 
          such preceding fiscal year; or
              ``(B) if the corresponding regular appropriation bill for 
          such preceding fiscal year did not become law, then in a joint 
          resolution making continuing appropriations for such preceding 
          fiscal year.
      ``(2) Appropriations and funds made available, and authority 
  granted, for a project or activity for any fiscal year pursuant to this 
  section shall be at a rate of operations not in excess of the lower 
  of--
              ``(A) the rate of operations provided for in the regular 
          appropriation Act providing for such project or activity for 
          the preceding fiscal year;
              ``(B) in the absence of such an Act, the rate of operations 
          provided for such project or activity pursuant to a joint 
          resolution making continuing appropriations for such preceding 
          fiscal year;
              ``(C) the rate of operations provided for in the regular 
          appropriation bill as passed by the House of Representatives or 
          the Senate for the fiscal year in question, except that the 
          lower of these two versions shall be ignored for any project or 
          activity for which there is a budget request if no funding is 
          provided for that project or activity in either version; or
              ``(D) the annualized rate of operations provided for in the 
          most recently enacted joint resolution making continuing 
          appropriations for part of that fiscal year or any funding 
          levels established under the provisions of this Act.
      ``(3) Appropriations and funds made available, and authority 
  granted, for any fiscal year pursuant to this section for a project or 
  activity shall be available for the period beginning with the first day 
  of a lapse in appropriations and ending with the earlier of--
              ``(A) the date on which the applicable regular 
          appropriation bill for such fiscal year becomes law (whether or 
          not such law provides for such project or activity) or a 
          continuing resolution making appropriations becomes law, as the 
          case may be; or
              ``(B) the last day of such fiscal year.
      ``(b) An appropriation or funds made available, or authority 
  granted, for a project or activity for any fiscal year pursuant to this 
  section shall be subject to the terms and conditions imposed with 
  respect to the appropriation made or funds made available for the 
  preceding fiscal year, or authority granted for such project or 
  activity under current law.
      ``(c) Appropriations and funds made available, and authority 
  granted, for any project or activity for any fiscal year pursuant to 
  this section shall cover all obligations or expenditures incurred for 
  such project or activity during the portion of such fiscal year for 
  which this section applies to such project or activity.
      ``(d) Expenditures made for a project or activity for any fiscal 
  year pursuant to this section shall be charged to the applicable 
  appropriation, fund, or authorization whenever a regular appropriation 
  bill or a joint resolution making continuing appropriations until the 
  end of a fiscal year providing for such project or activity for such 
  period becomes law.
      ``(e) This section shall not apply to a project or activity during 
  a fiscal year if any other provision of law (other than an 
  authorization of appropriations)--
              ``(1) makes an appropriation, makes funds available, or 
          grants authority for such project or activity to continue for 
          such period; or
              ``(2) specifically provides that no appropriation shall be 
          made, no funds shall be made available, or no authority shall 
          be granted for such project or activity to continue for such 
          period.
      ``(f) For purposes of this section, the term `regular appropriation 
  bill' means any annual appropriation bill making appropriations, 
  otherwise making funds available, or granting authority, for any of the 
  following categories of projects and activities:
              ``(1) Agriculture, rural development, Food and Drug 
          Administration, and related agencies programs.
              ``(2) The Departments of Commerce, Justice, Science, and 
          related agencies.
              ``(3) The Department of Defense.
              ``(4) Energy and water development, and related agencies.
              ``(5) Financial services and general government.
              ``(6) The Department of Homeland Security.
              ``(7) The Department of Interior, environment, and related 
          agencies.
              ``(8) The Department of Labor, Health and Human Services, 
          and Education, and related agencies.
              ``(9) The legislative branch.
              ``(10) Military construction and veterans affairs.
              ``(11) The Department of State, foreign operations, and 
          related programs.
              ``(12) The Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, 
          and related agencies.''.
      (b) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis of chapter 13 of title 31, 
  United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to 
  section 1310 the following new item:
  
  ``1311. Continuing appropriations.''.
target: Government Shutdown Prevention Act - Provides for automatic continuing appropriations if any regular appropriation for a fiscal year (or, if applicable, for each fiscal year in a biennium) does not become law before the beginning of such fiscal year, or a joint resolution making continuing appropriations is not in effect.
  
  Appropriates amounts necessary to continue any project or activity for which funds were provided in the preceding fiscal year: (1) in the corresponding regular appropriation Act for such preceding fiscal year; or (2) if such legislation did not become law, then in the joint resolution making continuing appropriations for such preceding fiscal year.
  
  Requires the appropriations and funds made available, and authority granted, for any fiscal year for a project or activity to be available for the period beginning with the first day of a lapse in appropriations and ending with the earlier of: (1) the date on which the applicable regular appropriation bill for such fiscal year becomes law (whether or not such law provides for such project or activity) or a continuing resolution making appropriations becomes law, as the case may be; or (2) the last day of such fiscal year.
feat_title: A bill to prevent Government shutdowns.