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S. 589: Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2019

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S. 589: Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2019

116th Congress · introduced 2019-02-27 · Economics and Public Finance · Latest: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Appropriations.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2019-02-27 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Sen. Lankford, James [R-OK] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Appropriations. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2019

Plain summary

Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2019 This bill provides continuing appropriations to prevent a government shutdown if any of the appropriations bills for a fiscal year have not been enacted before the fiscal year begins and continuing appropriations are not in effect. The bill also limits official travel, congressional recesses or adjournments, and the consideration of legislation that is unrelated to appropriations after the beginning of a fiscal year if all of the regular appropriations bills for the year have not been enacted.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2019

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate)

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The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

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Arguments against (opponents)

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Sen. Lankford, James [R-OK] · 6 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Margaret Wood Hassan (D-NH), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)

Sponsor's campaign money: Sen. Lankford, James [R-OK] reported raising $1.2 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (3)
Appropriation
Money a legislature sets aside by law for a specific purpose. Government agencies may spend public money only as it has been appropriated.
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Fiscal year
The 12-month period a government uses for its budget. The federal fiscal year runs from October 1 to September 30 and is named for the calendar year in which it ends. Most states use July 1 to June 30.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong116-s589 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong116 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong116