WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Angus King (I-Maine) is joining a bipartisan group of his colleagues to reintroduce the Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2021, which would take government shutdowns off the table by setting up an automatic continuing resolution (CR) if government funding has not been enacted on time and requiring Congress to stay in town until the job is done. The Senators’ legislation comes ahead of a September 30th deadline to pass legislation that prevents another government shutdown.

“The American people sent us here to do a job – and when we allow partisan brinksmanship to shut down the government, we aren’t doing that job,” said Senator King. “Government shutdowns have significant impacts on people and communities across the country, affecting key federal departments and the contractors they work with, slowing our economy, and putting working families in limbo. It’s clear that something needs to change, and I’m proud to back a bipartisan bill that would keep the government open, and keep Congress in session until we reach an agreement.”

Upon a lapse in government funding, the bill would implement an automatic CR, on rolling 14-day periods, based on the most current spending levels enacted in the previous fiscal year. This would prevent a shutdown and continue critical services and operations; not only do shutdowns shutter federal agencies and branch offices, but they also harm the economies of communities where they operate. The Prevent Government Shutdowns Act also requires that if appropriations work is not done on time, all Members of Congress must stay in Washington, DC, and work until the spending bills are signed by the president.

During the covered period of an automatic continuing resolution, the following restrictions are put in place:

·       No taxpayer-funded travel allowances for official business (except one flight to return to Washington, DC) for the following:

o   White House OMB staff and leadership

o   Members of the House and Senate

o   Committee and personal staff of the House and Senate

·       No official funds may be used for Congressional member or staff travel

·       No use of campaign funds by congressional offices to supplement official duties or travel expenses

·       No motions to recess or adjourn in the House/Senate for a period or more than 23 hours

Senator King previously cosponsored this legislation in 2019, and has repeatedly spoken out against the harm caused by government shut downs. During the 35-day partial shutdown at the beginning of 2019, Senator King made reopening the federal government his top priority. His January podcast featured Senator Kaine and Kristen Miale, President of the Good Shepherd Food Bank in Auburn, discussing the effects of the shutdown on federal employees in Maine and around the country. Senator King also participated in a bipartisan appeal on the floor of the U.S. Senate, and in a video message emphasizing the negative impact the government shutdown was having on people across Maine – including U.S. Coast Guard personnel and families.

In addition to Senator King, the bill is backed by Senators James Lankford (R-Okla.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Steve Daines (R-Mt.), Ben Sasse (R-Neb.), and Bill Cassidy (R-La.).  

The Prevent Government Shutdowns Act is supported by the following groups: Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, Council for Citizens Against Government Waste, FreedomWorks, National Taxpayers Union, Americans for Prosperity, Americans for Tax Reform, and American Conservative Union.