Press Releases

 

WASHINGTON – On Wednesday, Congressman Steve Womack introduced H.R. 1255, the Government Shutdown Prevention Act. This bill states that if the Senate fails to pass a measure supplying appropriations to the federal government for the remainder of the fiscal year 2011 before April 6, 2011—the deadline to avoid a government shutdown—H.R. 1, which passed the House on February 19, 2011 (more than 40 days ago) will become law of the land.

 

It also provides that, in the event of a government shutdown in excess of 24 hours or the limitation on the debt of the United States being reached, no salary payments will be disbursed to Members of Congress or the President for days on which that condition persists.

• More information on H.R. 1255
• More information on H.R. 1

 

Congressman Womack released this statement on the introduction of H.R. 1255:

 

    “I believe this bill is exactly what the country needs and what the people have been asking for—accountability. 40 days have come and gone since the House passed H.R. 1, cutting more than $100 billion in government spending. During those 40 days, as Senate Leadership refused to come to the table, the House and its Leadership continued working to cut spending in two and three week segments with the purpose of avoiding a government shutdown.

    "But there comes a point when something has to give. Since the passage of H.R. 1 Senate Leadership has barely lifted a legislative finger. Mr. Reid and his colleagues need to come to the realization that America’s future is more than a game political ‘Battleship’. The United States government was built on the foundation of ‘for the people, by the people’. I and my fellow Republican members mean to put the people back in the driver’s seat.

"H.R. 1255 is simply a way to make sure that the will of the American people is accomplished with the sense of urgency reflective of our fiscal circumstances.”

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