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The Showdown Ends in a Shutdown

5 min read

The federal government has shut down for the first time in 17 years. After weeks of ping-pong-style back and forth over the "Continuing Resolution," which would fund the federal government, the House and Senate could not reach an agreement by the Sept. 30 deadline.

  • WEIGH IN What’s your position on using the government shutdown as a way to reform Obamacare? Some lawmakers in Congress are using the government funding process — and the resulting shutdown — as an opportunity to defund, delay or reform Obamacare (the Affordable Care Act). Other lawmakers as well as President Obama oppose any attempts to change Obamacare in the government funding process. Instead, they're seeking a "clean" Continuing Resolution, which only addresses government funding. Weigh in.

Bills for a Government Shutdown

The federal government has shut down 17 times since a new budgeting process was put into place in 1976. Both Presidents Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan dealt with at least six shutdowns each. The most recent shutdown came in 1996 — for three weeks!

The Obama Administration estimates roughly 800,000 federal workers will be furloughed in a government shutdown. The vast majority — 85 percent — of federal workers live outside the Washington, DC metro region.

 

The shutdown will also close national parks, and even delay passports and visas and perhaps even Social Security and Medicare payments. Servicemembers may not get paid in time either, although the President signed into law a bill ensuring military pay — and veterans may not get their benefits. (Letter to President from House Members.) A federal government shutdown may also mean a District of Columbia government shutdown. (Letter from Del. Eleanor Norton (D-DC).) Ironically, a shutdown wouldn't necessarily shut down Obamacare.

Already, dozens of bills have been introduced related to the government shut down, including one that Congress passed and the President signed into law: 

Signed into Law

  • HR 3210 Pay Our Military Act Making continuing appropriations for military pay in the event of a Government shutdown. (House and Senate passed this bill; and the President signed it into law on 9/30.)

House Republican Piecemeal FY 2014 Appropriations Bills

Related to Servicemembers and Veterans

  • HCRes 58 Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the need for the continued availability of religious services to members of the Armed Forces and their families during a lapse in appropriations.
  • HR 3239 A bill: Making automatic continuing appropriations for the continuation of FBI emergency and critical training programs in the event of a Government shutdown.
  • HR 3236 Hold Congress Accountable Act: To reduce the annual rate of pay of Members of Congress if a Government shutdown occurs during a year.
  • HR 3235 A bill: To provide for the compensation of any Federal, State, or local employee furloughed due to a lapse in appropriations which began on or about October 1, 2013.
  • HR 3234 A bill: To withhold the pay of Members of Congress, the President, and the Vice President if a Government shutdown is in effect or the Government is unable to make payments or meet obligations because the public debt limit has been reached.
  • HR 3231 Continuing Protection for Victims and Law Enforcement Act: Making automatic continuing appropriations for law enforcement, crime prevention, and victim services programs of the Department of Justice in the event of a Government shutdown.
  • HJRes 72 Veterans Benefits Continuing Appropriations Resolution: Making continuing appropriations for veterans benefits for fiscal year 2014. 
  • HR 3225 Save Our Veterans Act: Making continuing appropriations for veterans benefits in the event of a Government shutdown. 
  • S 1564 Protecting Those Who Protected Us Act: making continuing appropriations for veterans benefits and services in the event of a Government shutdown. 
  • HR 3217 Military Pay Act: To ensure the pay and allowances of members of the Armed Forces in the event that the debt limit is reached or during a funding gap. 
  • HR 3216 A bill: to ensure that members of the Armed Forces and Federal law enforcement officers continue to receive their pay and allowances despite a shutdown of the Federal Government or in the event that the debt of the US Government reaches the statutory limit. 
  • HR 3214 Preserve our National Security Act: Making continuing appropriations for personnel critical to national security during a Government shutdown.
  • HR 3187 Military Pay Protection Act: To appropriate such funds as may be necessary to ensure that members of the Armed Forces, including reserve components thereof, and supporting civilian and contractor personnel continue to receive pay and allowances for active service performed when a Governmentwide shutdown occurs. 
  • HR 3175 A bill: Making appropriations for fiscal year 2014 to ensure that members of the Armed Forces, including reserve components thereof, continue to receive pay and allowances for active service performed during a Government shutdown. 
  • S 1543 Ensuring Pay for Our Military Act: to appropriate such funds as may be necessary to ensure that members of the Armed Forces, including reserve components thereof, and supporting civilian and contractor personnel continue to receive pay and allowances for active service performed when a funding gap caused by the failure to enact interim or full-year appropriations for the Armed Forces occurs, which results in the furlough of non-emergency personnel and the curtailment of Government activities and services. 
  • S 1541 Military Pay Protection Act: to appropriate such funds as may be necessary to ensure that members of the Armed Forces, including reserve components thereof, and supporting civilian and contractor personnel continue to receive pay and allowances for active service performed when a Governmentwide shutdown occurs. 

Related to Lawmakers' Pay

Related to Seniors

  • HR 3152 Pay Our Veterans and Seniors First Act: To prohibit Members of Congress, the President, the Vice President, and the head of any Executive department from receiving pay for any period in which there is a Government shutdown and to provide for payments to seniors, military and veterans during a Government shutdown. 

Related to DC

  • HR 3100 DC Government Shutdown Avoidance Act: To amend the District of Columbia Home Rule Act to make local funds of the District of Columbia available for use by the District during any portion of a fiscal year in which no Federal law appropriating local funds for the fiscal year is in effect, at the rates of operation provided under the local budget act for the fiscal year.

Related to Federal Employees

Other Related Bills

Please keep in mind that highlighting a bill doesn't imply a POPVOX endorsement in any way. Rather, we're simply trying to offer one more way to stay informed of an overwhelmingly complex legislative system.

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