In a move aimed at ending the disruptive cycle of government shutdowns, Senator Ashley Moody announced she is cosponsoring the Eliminate Shutdowns Act, a bill originally introduced by Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI).
Moody stated the legislation is her attempt to “bring sanity to D.C.” and ensure the government remains open and operational for the American people.
The push comes as the country faces a prolonged government funding lapse, which Senator Moody referred to as the “Schumer Shutdown,” accusing Democrats of “holding the American people hostage.”
Automatic Funding to Prevent Lapses
The Eliminate Shutdowns Act is designed to provide a safeguard against funding expirations that force the government to shut down. Key provisions of the bill include:
- Automatic Continuing Resolution (Auto-CR): If Congress fails to pass appropriations or a Continuing Resolution (CR) by the end of the fiscal year, a 14-day auto-CR is immediately triggered.
- Rolling Extensions: If Congress still hasn’t passed a funding measure by the end of the initial 14-day period, the auto-CR automatically renews for another 14 days, continuing until a full appropriations bill or standard CR is enacted.
- Mandatory Program Funding: The bill ensures that entitlements and other mandatory programs continue to be funded at the rate required to maintain current law or preceding appropriation levels.
- Flexibility for Agencies: During an auto-CR period, agency heads, with approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), are authorized to transfer up to five percent of funds from a lower-priority appropriation account to a higher-priority one. Any such transfer requires notification to the congressional appropriations committee.
Harm to Americans and the Economy
Senator Moody emphasized the negative effects of the funding lapses, noting that shutdowns “do not serve the American people, cost billions of dollars, and harm the U.S. economy.”
She highlighted the impact on federal employees, stating that each day the shutdown persists is another day that “our troops, law enforcement officers, federal and essential workers go without pay.”
To underscore her commitment, Senator Moody previously announced that she will be donating her taxpayer-funded salary for every day the federal government remains shut down during the current impasse. This personal gesture accompanies her legislative effort to eliminate shutdowns permanently.
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