FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 26, 2026
CONTACT:
Kyra Smith (Crapo)
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) signed onto legislation aimed at keeping Congress in Washington during a government shutdown until a resolution is reached. Crapo is a co-sponsor of the bipartisan Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2026, introduced by Senators James Lankford (R-Oklahoma) and Maggie Hassan (D-New Hampshire).
“This legislation would help ensure federal workers are not held hostage by Congress’s inability to act during a shutdown,” said Crapo. “It would also restrict congressional travel and limit floor time to appropriations in order to expedite resolution.”
Joining Crapo, Lankford and Hassan as co-sponsors of the legislation are Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyoming), Steve Daines (R-Montana), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), Katie Britt (R-Alabama), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Dave McCormick (R-Pennsylvania), Shelley Moore Capito (R-West Virginia), John Kennedy (R-Louisianan), Deb Fischer (R-Nebraska), Tim Sheehy (R-Montana), Tim Scott (R-South Carolina), Pete Ricketts (R-Nebraska), John Fetterman (D-Pennsylvania), Tim Kaine (D-Virginia), Elissa Slotkin (D-Michigan), Jacky Rosen (D-Nevada), and Mark Kelly (D-Arizona).
Companion legislation has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Budget Chairman Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) and Representative Jimmy Panetta (D-California).
Americans for Prosperity (AFP), the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), Association of Flight Attendants (AFA), Partnership for Public Service (PPS), Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) and the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CRFB) are supporting the legislation.
Background
The Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2026 requires that if appropriations work is not completed on time, all Members of Congress must remain in Washington, D.C., and work until the spending bills are finalized. This will prevent a government-wide shutdown, maintain critical services and operations for Americans and protect federal workers while Congress completes appropriations.
Specifically, upon a lapse in government funding, the bill would implement an automatic continuing resolution (CR) on rolling 14-day periods, based on the most current spending levels enacted in the previous fiscal year. This would prevent a shutdown and ensure continuity of essential government services.
During the covered period of an automatic CR, the following restrictions would apply:
- No taxpayer-funded travel allowances for official business (except one flight to return to Washington, D.C.) for the following:
- White House Office of Management and Budget staff and leadership
- Members of the House and Senate
- Committee and personal staff of the House and Senate
- No official funds may be used for CODEL or STAFFDEL travel
- No use of campaign funds by congressional offices to supplement official duties or travel expenses
- No motions to recess or adjourn in the House/Senate for a period of more than 23 hours
In addition, under the bill, no other votes would be in order in the House and Senate unless they pertain to passage of the appropriations bills or mandatory quorum calls in the Senate. However, after 30 days under the automatic CR, certain expiring authorization bills and executive calendar nominations would be eligible for consideration on the Senate floor, including a nomination for a Justice of the Supreme Court or a Cabinet Secretary and narrow reauthorization legislation for programs operating under an authorization that has already expired or will expire within the next 30 days. These restrictions can be waived by a two-thirds vote in either chamber, but not for longer than seven days.
You can view the full text of the bill HERE.
About Mike Crapo
Senator Mike Crapo has represented Idaho in the Senate since 1999, following three terms in the U.S. House and eight years in the Idaho State Senate. A lifelong Idahoan, he currently serves as Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.
