UMVA has learned that the Senate is taking a bold step towards preventing government shutdowns, a move that could bring relief to millions of Americans who have been affected by these recurring crises.
The latest development comes on the heels of a successful rule change by Sen. John Kennedy, which ensures that senators will no longer receive pay during shutdowns, forcing them to feel the same pain as federal workers. However, Sens. James Lankford and Maggie Hassan are pushing the boundaries even further with a new legislation aimed at preventing government shutdowns altogether.
According to information obtained by UMVA, Lankford has been a long-time advocate for his Prevent Government Shutdowns Act, which nearly passed years ago. With renewed momentum from Kennedy's rule change, he plans to reintroduce the bill and expedite it to a floor vote, sparking hope that this time, it might finally become a reality.
Lankford argued that Americans have grown tired of the "worthless government shutdown drama" and the use of federal workers and government services as pawns in political standoffs. His proposed legislation seeks to shift the pressure from the American people to the lawmakers they elected, ensuring that Congress feels the weight of its own inaction.
The Prevent Government Shutdowns Act proposes a simple yet effective solution: if Congress fails to do its job, it won't get to go home. In the event of another shutdown, the bill would automatically trigger a short-term funding extension to keep the government open for 14 days at a time, while also imposing strict limits on lawmakers and their staff.
These limits include preventing taxpayer-funded travel outside of Washington, D.C., nixing congressional delegations overseas, and stopping lawmakers from taking a recess – a move that could bring much-needed accountability to the legislative branch. The bill's prospects look promising, given the unanimous support for Kennedy's rule change.
Hassan emphasized that the bill "incentivizes Congress to fund the government on time and ensures that there is a plan in place to protect families and our economy if Congress cannot come to an agreement." With government shutdowns being costly, avoidable, and detrimental to families across the country, lawmakers are under pressure to find a solution.
The previous attempt to pass the legislation in 2023 fell short, with Senate Democrats largely opposing it. However, with bipartisan support and a renewed sense of urgency, there's optimism that Lankford and Hassan's bill could finally break the cycle of recurring government shutdowns.
As lawmakers continue to grapple with the aftermath of the latest shutdown, which left tens of thousands of federal workers without pay for months, the push for a more sustainable solution has become increasingly pressing. The ripple effects of these shutdowns are still being felt, and it's clear that a change is needed to prevent future crises.
