SCOOP: Movement builds for “nonpartisan” legislation to end government shutdowns for good

A bipartisan group of lawmakers is scoring backup for its push to end government shutdowns once and for all, as one of its leaders testifies on the Hill about the need for the legislation.

As Sen. James Lankford (R., Okla.) testified to the House Appropriations Committee before Reps. Tom Cole (R., Okla.) and Rosa DeLauro (D., Conn.),  groups ranging from the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) to the Bipartisan Policy Center Action to Americans for Prosperity to the International Brotherhood of Teamsters to Americans for Tax Reform back his bipartisan, bicameral, bill. 

“Very simply, if we get to the end of a fiscal year and appropriations are not complete, an automatic continuing resolution kicks in, but Members of Congress and the White House Office of Management and Budget have to remain in Washington, D.C., in session, seven days a week,” Lankford noted. “During that time, Congress cannot move to legislation other than appropriations bills until we finish our work.” He added that a recent poll found that over 80 percent of respondents support his proposal, which he described as “nonpartisan.” 

The groups backing the bill, which range from public sector unions to conservative free market advocates, does not agree on much. But, in the face of what Teamsters President Sean O’Brien described as “increasingly commonplace” government shutdowns, Lankford and his colleagues — Sen. Maggie Hassan (D., N.H.) and Reps. Jodey Arrington (R., Texas) and Jimmy Panetta (D., Calif.) — want to change that. 

“The Prevent Government Shutdown Act would fix this problem by taking shutdowns off the table and incentivizing Congress to do its job,” O’Brien explained. “In the event of a lapse in appropriations, the bill keeps federal agencies open by automatically extending existing funding levels in rolling two-week increments. While a funding fight occurs, only appropriations and emergency legislation can be considered, with a hold placed on official congressional travel, recess and adjournments forcing Congress to stay at work and focus solely on funding the government.” 

For Lankford, the Prevent Government Shutdown Act is a top priority, and it has been for over a decade; he noted to Cole and DeLauro that he has introduced it every Congress since 2019. 

“As we all know, when a shutdown occurs, members of Congress leave on CODELs, or they travel home to be with their families, while federal workers and their families face real financial strain,” Lankford explained, pointing out the real-life consequences that government shutdowns pose.

“Sharee Quick is a TSA agent in Las Vegas,” he said. “During the last shutdown, she showed up to work every day with no pay. She had to make decisions every week whether she should put gas in her car or pay her electricity bill. After more than 40 days without a paycheck, she was unsure whether she’d be able to pay for her essential blood pressure prescription. That happened to her because we did not work out our differences in time.” 

Lankford and Hassan also have support from Sens. John Barrasso (R., Wyo.), Steve Daines (R., Mont.), Marsha Blackburn (R., Tenn.), Katie Britt (R., Ala.), Joni Ernst (R., Iowa), Chuck Grassley (R., Iowa), Dave McCormick (R., Pa.), Shelley Moore Capito (R., W.Va.), Mike Crapo (R., Idaho), John Kennedy (R., La.), Deb Fischer (R., Neb.), Tim Sheehy (R., Mont.), Tim Scott (R., S.C.), Pete Ricketts (R., Neb.), Thom Tillis (R., N.C.), John Cornyn (R., Texas), Alan Armstrong (R., Okla.), John Fetterman (D., Pa.), Tim Kaine (D., Va.), Elissa Slotkin (D., Mich.), Jacky Rosen (D., Nev.), and Mark Kelly (D., Ariz.).