[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 62 (Tuesday, May 13, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E897]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E897]]

 DAVIS OF VIRGINIA/WYNN/MORELLA/MORAN OF VIRGINIA/CUMMINGS/HOYER/WOLF 
                GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN PREVENTION AMENDMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. THOMAS M. DAVIS

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 13, 1997

  Mr. DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, this week the House is scheduled 
to vote on H.R. 1469, the Disaster Recovery Act of 1997, at which time 
we intend to offer our Government shutdown prevention amendment. This 
amendment will provide 100 percent of fiscal year 1997 spending levels 
through the end of fiscal year 1998, in the absence of regular 
appropriations bills. In addition, our amendment specifically ensures 
that no Federal employees will be furloughed or RIF'd because of this 
temporary funding level.
  This amendment will guarantee that the Federal Government does not 
hold Federal employees hostage during a stalled appropriations process. 
In the State of Texas alone, this amendment will ensure that almost 
200,000 hard-working Federal employees and their families will not have 
to face the prospect of unknown periods of unemployment when the 
Government shuts down. This is a common-sense amendment which will work 
as a safety net until the normal fiscal year 1998 appropriations 
process is completed.
  In sum, this 100-percent safety net is an effective way to provide an 
immediate guarantee that: First, the Federal Government will always 
remain open and working for the taxpayer; second, we will meet our 
commitment to keep America's civil servants on the job; and third, we 
will meet our shared goal of controlling Federal spending.

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