Bill Aimed at Preventing Government Shutdown Passes House

The House of Representatives today passed a bill that would withhold the salaries of the President and Members of Congress in the event of a government shutdown. The bill, H.R. 1255, co-sponsored by Rep. Rob Woodall (R-GA) also stipulates that if the Senate fails to pass a measure by April 6 providing appropriations for government agencies for the remainder of fiscal year 2011, H.R. 1, passed by the House on Feb. 19, 2011, will become law until the Senate acts. 

“The House worked tirelessly to put together a bill to both fund this government and make the spending cuts we need to lift our country out of its financial hole.  Yet the Senate refuses to pass that bill, H.R. 1, or any other funding bill for the remainder of FY2011.  Passing H.R. 1255 will prevent a shutdown of the United States government by funding the government at H.R. 1 levels while waiting for the Senate to Act,” Woodall said in a released statement.

“H.R. 1255 reaffirms our commitment both to responsible spending cuts and to keeping the government open so that we can move forward with the business of the American people; including passing a fiscally conservative ten-year budget and a tackling the enormous task of cutting spending in FY2012.” 

Rep. Woodall managed today’s debate of the bill.  

“I hope that this bill motivates the Senate to finally act on passing responsible funding legislation for the remainder of the fiscal year.  If funding the government at the levels prescribed by the House is not what Senator Reid and his majority wants, I need to see his alternative,” Woodall said.

Woodall’s 7th Congressional District includes all of Barrow and Walton counties, most of Gwinnett County, and portions of Forsyth and Newton counties.