The federal government – and its employees – would no longer have to fear a possible government shutdown, under legislation being developed by Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Fla.
The Shut Down the Shutdowns Act would automatically implement a continuing resolution for any program, project or activity for which funding has lapsed without Congressional renewal, according to a letter Grayson sent to members of the House March 3.
The bill would appropriate funding at the same level as the previous fiscal year – serving as a stopgap measure until Congress approves new funding legislation.
"The time has come to stop holding hostage the programs that benefit Americans, and keep us safe. The time has come to avoid walking up to, dancing at the edge of, and then dropping off of, fiscal cliffs," Grayson wrote in the letter.
The bill comes after Congress nearly failed to pass a full-year funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security, passing a week-long extension Feb. 27 with only hours to go before the agency shut down. Congress passed a full-year funding bill this week.
On Oct. 1, 2013, the federal government shut down for 16 days as Congress struggled to pass appropriations legislation for fiscal year 2014. Hundreds of thousands of federal employees were furloughed and the rest worked without pay.
Grayson urged members of Congress to support the legislation and sign on as co-sponsors to allow Congress to focus on important tasks and remove the threat of shutdowns.
"Passing the "Shut Down the Shutdowns Act" would allow every Member of Congress to return to our Constitutional tasks of legislating and governing – not mere political maneuvering," Grayson wrote in the letter.
