Jodey Arrington (R-TX)
Prevent Government Shutdowns Act
A Republican bill with 9 Democratic cosponsors · See all 21 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the Committee on Appropriations, and in addition to the Committees on Rules, House Administration, Oversight and Government Reform, and the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the Prevent Government Shutdowns Act, automatically provides funding to keep government programs running in 14-day increments if regular appropriations bills fail to pass on time. During these periods of automatic funding, official and campaign-funded travel is restricted for Members of Congress and certain government employees. The bill also places strict rules on the House and Senate to stay in session and focus almost entirely on passing the missing appropriations bills. These special operational rules and restrictions continue until the necessary spending bills are successfully enacted.
Yes· 3 of 7
- Scored +6
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The legislation establishes strict operating procedures for Congress and restricts travel during funding lapses to encourage prompt budgeting.
- Scored +4
Is this likely to grow the economy?
By preventing government shutdowns, the bill avoids the severe economic disruptions and productivity losses associated with funding lapses.
- Scored +3
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
Low-income households rely heavily on uninterrupted federal assistance programs that are protected from government shutdown disruptions.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Section 2 provides automatic funding for government programs in 14-day blocks if a budget lapse occurs, which prevents government shutdowns and keeps public services running without interruption.
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Section 3 restricts official and campaign-funded travel for Members of Congress and certain employees during a funding lapse, holding our elected officials accountable by keeping them in Washington to work on the budget rather than traveling.
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Section 3 forces the House and Senate to stay in session by banning recesses or adjournments of more than 23 hours, ensuring our representatives stay on the job until the funding problem is solved.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Section 3 limits the business that Congress can conduct during a funding lapse to only appropriations, the debt limit, and certain high-level nominations, which prevents lawmakers from working on other important legislation for the people until the budget is fixed.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Low-income households rely heavily on uninterrupted federal assistance programs that are protected from government shutdown disruptions. Would union members be better off under this? — Federal workers and unionized public employees are protected from furloughs and pay delays during budget impasses. Would business owners be better off under this? — Business owners benefit from predictable government operations and the avoidance of economic shocks caused by federal shutdowns. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Middle-class households benefit from stable government services and public programs continuing without shutdown-related interruptions.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to grow the economy? — By preventing government shutdowns, the bill avoids the severe economic disruptions and productivity losses associated with funding lapses. Does this make it easier to run a small business? — Small businesses benefit from the continuous operation of federal programs and services during potential budget impasses.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The legislation establishes strict operating procedures for Congress and restricts travel during funding lapses to encourage prompt budgeting.
- 7/27/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/3/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 3/4/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/26/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 12/16/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 11/17/2025
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 11/12/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 11/7/2025
- 6 Cosponsors added.
- 10/31/2025
- Referred to the Committee on Appropriations, and in addition to the Committees on Rules, House Administration, Oversight and Government Reform, and the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 7 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
4 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Jack BergmanRepublican · Michigan
Charles FleischmannRepublican · Tennessee
Brian FitzpatrickRepublican · Pennsylvania
Josh GottheimerDemocrat · New Jersey
Daniel GoldmanDemocrat · New York
Maggie GoodlanderDemocrat · New Hampshire
Bill HuizengaRepublican · Michigan
Jeff HurdRepublican · Colorado
John JoyceRepublican · Pennsylvania
Jonathan JacksonDemocrat · Illinois
Michael LawlerRepublican · New York
Greg LandsmanDemocrat · Ohio
Mariannette Miller-MeeksRepublican · Iowa
Max MillerRepublican · Ohio
Zachary NunnRepublican · Iowa
Jay ObernolteRepublican · California
Scott PetersDemocrat · California
Jimmy PanettaDemocrat · California
Maria SalazarRepublican · Florida
Mike ThompsonDemocrat · California
Dina TitusDemocrat · Nevada