FMA-endorsed bipartisan legislation that would permanently avert future government shutdowns is getting a closer look in Congress. The Prevent Government Shutdowns Act (S. 4632), sponsored by Sens. James Lankford (R-OK) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH), was reintroduced in May 2026 and the subject of a July hearing in the House Appropriations Committee.

The bill would provide continuing appropriations at existing levels to prevent a government shutdown if the appropriations bills for a fiscal year have not been enacted before the fiscal year begins and continuing appropriations are not in effect. Upon a lapse in government funding, the Prevent Government Shutdowns Act would implement an automatic continuing resolution (CR), on rolling 14-day periods, based on the most current spending levels enacted in the previous fiscal year. During this time, particular restrictions would be instituted to ensure legislators work solely to restore funding, including:

• No taxpayer-funded travel allowances for official business (except one flight to return to Washington, DC)
• No official funds may be used for CODEL or STAFFDEL travel
• No use of campaign funds by congressional offices to supplement official duties or travel expenses
• No motions to recess or adjourn in the House/Senate for a period of more than 23 hours

Additionally, no other votes would be in order in the House and Senate unless they pertain to passage of

the appropriations bills or mandatory quorum calls in the Senate. After 30 days, legislators could consider a narrow and defined group of bills/programs and nominations for a Justice of the Supreme Court or a Cabinet Secretary.

While Senator Lankford has introduced similar legislation several times previously, this iteration has gained more support than ever, likely due to the multiple damaging partial government shutdowns we’ve seen over the past 12 months. S. 4632 currently has 24 cosponsors.

“Federal workers and their families should not suffer when Congress has not finished their appropriation work – but they do,” Lankford said during the hearing. “If we have to be here every day, we will get our work done, because we will find a way to be able to solve the problem,” he said.

Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) was generally supportive of the bill, while Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), the Ranking Member, expressed sympathy for the goal of reducing government shutdowns, but shared some concerns with the measure. She said efforts such as S. 4632 would “create far more problems than they would solve.”