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Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2019

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 304.

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Jun 18, 2019

Government Shutdown Accountability Act

This bill establishes various procedures and requirements for government shutdowns that occur due to a lapse in appropriations.

Among other provisions, the bill

directs the Office of Personnel Management to designate services related to Federal Employee Health Benefits Program enrollments as excepted services under the Antideficiency Act to require the services to continue during a government shutdown,

allows federal employees who are furloughed or working without pay during a government shutdown to seek and obtain employment outside the federal government,

limits expenditures for official travel,

restricts congressional recesses and adjournments, and

prohibits Congress from considering legislation that is unrelated to appropriations or an emergency if a government shutdown is in effect.

The provisions that restrict recesses, adjournments, and the consideration of legislation may be waived or suspended by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the Members of the applicable chamber of Congress.

Read the summary on Congress.gov
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Who introduced it

Sen. Lankford, James [R-OK] · R–OK

Committees

  • Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
3 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

  1. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 304.

  2. Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Johnson with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 116-158.

  3. Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Johnson with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 116-158.

  4. Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

  5. Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

  6. Introduced in Senate

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

Source last updated: Apr 7, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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