Johnson & Johnson Introduce Bill to Eliminate Government Shutdowns

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) introduced the Eliminate Shutdowns Actto ensure there will never again be a government shutdown. Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) is leading this bill in the Senate. Congress routinely faces a government shutdown in the event the funding process is not completed by September 30. Government shutdowns do not serve the American people, cost billions of dollars, and harm the U.S. economy.

"Shutdowns are stupid, and everyone knows it," said Johnson. "I was sent to Congress to make sure the government serves South Dakotans - it can't possibly serve South Dakota if it is closed. Almost every other country does not face the threat of a government shutdown. The Eliminate Shutdowns Actwill keep the government open, so it can work for you, while encouraging Congress to pass new funding packages."

The Eliminate Shutdowns Act:

• Triggers an automatic 14-day continuing resolution in the event of a lapse in appropriations.
• If Congress fails to pass appropriations or a Continuing Resolution "CR" by the end of the first 14-day auto-CR, then appropriations and funding continues for another 14 days, and so on and so on.
• The auto-CR ends if Congress passes an appropriations bill or CR.
• The bill ensures entitlements and other mandatory programs provided budget authority in the preceding appropriations Act continue to be funded at the rate necessary to maintain program levels under current law or the preceding appropriations Act.
• The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) would continue to have apportionment authority during an auto-CR period.
• During an auto-CR period, an agency head is authorized, with OMB approval, to transfer no more than five percent from one appropriation account to another appropriation account.
  • The agency head must notify the congressional appropriations committee of any transfer of funds.
  • The transfer can only be from a lower priority account to a higher priority account.

U.S. Representative Bryan Steil (R-WI) is an original cosponsor.

Click herefor bill text.