text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Preventing a Government Shutdown 
  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, excluding 
  any budget authority designated as an emergency or temporary funding 
  for projects or activities that are not part of ongoing operations, to 
  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; or
              ``(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.
      ``(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.
      ``(4) This section shall not provide funding for a new fiscal year 
  to continue any project or activity which is funded under the 
  provisions of this section at the end of the preceding fiscal year 
  until the enactment of a regular appropriation Act or joint resolution 
  making continuing appropriations for such project or activity during 
  such new 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 Department of Defense.
              ``(3) Energy and water development, and related agencies.
              ``(4) State, foreign operations, and related programs.
              ``(5) The Department of Homeland Security.
              ``(6) The Department of the Interior, Environmental 
          Protection Agency, and related agencies.
              ``(7) The Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, 
          and Education, and related agencies.
              ``(8) Military construction, veterans affairs, and related 
          agencies.
              ``(9) Science, the Departments of State, Justice, and 
          Commerce, and related agencies.
              ``(10) The Departments of Transportation, Housing and Urban 
          Development, and related agencies.
              ``(11) The Legislative Branch.
              ``(12) Financial services and general Government.''.
      (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.''.
      (c) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section shall apply 
  to fiscal years beginning fiscal year 2011.
target: Preventing a Government Shutdown Act - Provides for automatic continuing appropriations if a regular appropriation bill for a fiscal year (or if applicable, for each fiscal year in a biennium) does not become law or a joint resolution making continuing appropriations is not in effect.
feat_title: A bill to prevent the shutdown of the Federal Government.