[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 48 (Tuesday, April 22, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S3460]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN PREVENTION ACT

 Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, today I rise in support of S. 228, 
the Government Shutdown Prevention Act. I commend Senator McCain for 
his leadership in drafting this important legislation.
  We all lose when the Government shuts down. In Montana, as well as 
across the Nation, Federal workers were furloughed and national parks 
were closed; businesses and families were negatively affected when the 
Government shut down in December 1995 and January 1996. Consequently, 
millions of dollars were lost.
  President Clinton put Congress between a rock and a hard place in 
that he knew that we did not want to risk another Government shutdown. 
We were forced to pass a budget that added $6 billion back into 
Clinton's pet programs. The President was more interested in playing 
politics than he was in balancing the budget.
  Montanans are tired of political games. We can not let the 
administration replay its efforts to force Congress to spend billions 
of dollars just to avoid the threat of a shutdown because of gridlock. 
It is the responsibility of the Government to work for the people--not 
against them.
  Senator McCain's bill provides a safeguard against Government 
shutdowns. It establishes an automatic continuing resolution to provide 
the lowest spending levels for Federal agencies and programs in the 
event that the annual appropriations bills are not enacted by the start 
of the fiscal year. This provides an incentive to pass appropriations 
bills in a timely manner.
  This bill also addresses the concerns of those on Medicare, Medicaid, 
and Social Security as it specifically states that entitlements will be 
paid regardless of what appropriations are passed.
  I feel that the Government Shutdown Prevention Act protects 
Montanans. No longer will Montana's elderly and disabled have to fear 
not being able to pay medical bills because of a Government shutdown. 
Welfare recipients will not have to worry about going hungry because of 
the President's political gameplaying. Finally, Montana communities 
like West Yellowstone, Gardiner, and Columbia Falls--which serve as 
gateways to Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks--will not suffer 
because gridlock has forced the closure of national monuments and 
parks. The Government Prevention Shutdown Act ensures that the 
Government is working for the benefit of Montana. This is why I am 
proud to be a cosponsor of this bill.

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