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A bill to amend title 31, United States Code, to provide for automatic continuing resolutions.

2/11/2025, 11:56 AM

Summary of Bill S 499

Bill 119 s 499, also known as the Automatic Continuing Resolution Act, aims to amend title 31 of the United States Code to establish a system of automatic continuing resolutions. This means that if Congress fails to pass a budget by the deadline, funding for government operations would continue at the previous year's levels until a new budget is approved.

The purpose of this bill is to prevent government shutdowns and ensure that essential services are not disrupted due to political gridlock. By implementing automatic continuing resolutions, the bill seeks to provide stability and certainty in government funding, even in the absence of a formal budget agreement.

Supporters of the bill argue that it would help avoid the negative consequences of government shutdowns, such as furloughed employees, delayed payments to contractors, and disruptions to vital services. They believe that automatic continuing resolutions would provide a safety net in case Congress is unable to reach a budget agreement in a timely manner. Opponents of the bill, however, raise concerns about the potential for abuse and lack of accountability in government spending. They argue that automatic continuing resolutions could lead to complacency in budget negotiations and reduce the incentive for Congress to reach a compromise. Overall, Bill 119 s 499 represents an attempt to address the recurring issue of government shutdowns by establishing a mechanism for automatic continuing resolutions. The bill aims to provide a pragmatic solution to ensure the uninterrupted operation of essential government services in the event of budgetary impasses.

Congressional Summary of S 499

Government Shutdown Prevention Act of 2025

This bill provides continuing appropriations to prevent a government shutdown if any appropriations measure for a fiscal year has not been enacted before the fiscal year begins and continuing appropriations are not in effect.

For an initial 90-day period, the bill provides continuing appropriations at 94% of the rate for the preceding year to continue programs, projects, and activities for which funds were provided in the preceding fiscal year. The bill reduces the continuing appropriations by 1% after the first 90-day period and by an additional 1% for each subsequent 90-day period until the applicable appropriations legislation is enacted.

Current Status of Bill S 499

Bill S 499 is currently in the status of Bill Introduced since February 10, 2025. Bill S 499 was introduced during Congress 119 and was introduced to the Senate on February 10, 2025.  Bill S 499's most recent activity was Read twice and referred to the Committee on Appropriations. as of February 10, 2025

Bipartisan Support of Bill S 499

Total Number of Sponsors
1
Democrat Sponsors
0
Republican Sponsors
1
Unaffiliated Sponsors
0
Total Number of Cosponsors
0
Democrat Cosponsors
0
Republican Cosponsors
0
Unaffiliated Cosponsors
0

Policy Area and Potential Impact of Bill S 499

Primary Policy Focus

Alternate Title(s) of Bill S 499

A bill to amend title 31, United States Code, to provide for automatic continuing resolutions.
A bill to amend title 31, United States Code, to provide for automatic continuing resolutions.

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