1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

H.R. 8911 - To amend title 31, United States Code, to provide for the continuing appropriation of pay and allowances for members of the armed forces during a government shutdown. BE IT ENACTED BY THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the "Ensuring Continued Military Pay Act of 2026". SECTION 2. FINDINGS. The Congress finds the following: (1) The members of the United States Armed Forces serve with dedication and distinction, and their service is essential to the security of the Nation. (2) A lapse in appropriations, commonly known as a government shutdown, should not prevent the timely payment of pay and allowances to members of the Armed Forces. (3) It is a matter of national security and a moral obligation to ensure that the men and women of the Armed Forces, and their families, do not face financial hardship due to a failure to enact appropriations. SECTION 3. CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS FOR PAY AND ALLOWANCES OF THE ARMED FORCES. (a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 13 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section: § 1352. Continuing appropriations for pay and allowances of the Armed Forces (a) If a regular appropriation bill providing appropriations for the Department of Defense for a fiscal year is not enacted before the beginning of such fiscal year, there are appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, such sums as may be necessary to continue to provide pay and allowances to members of the Armed Forces (as defined in section 101 of title 10), including the reserve components thereof, who perform active service during the period of the continuing appropriation. (b) The period of a continuing appropriation under this section begins on the first day of the fiscal year for which a regular appropriation bill providing appropriations for the Department of Defense has not been enacted and ends on the date on which such regular appropriation bill is enacted. (c) Appropriations and funds made available, and authority granted, for any fiscal year for the Department of Defense pursuant to this section shall be at a rate for operations not in excess of the lower of— (1) the rate for operations provided for in the regular appropriation Act for the preceding fiscal year; or (2) the rate for operations provided for in the regular appropriation bill for the fiscal year for which this section is in effect, as passed by the House of Representatives. (d) Appropriations and funds made available, and authority granted, for any fiscal year for the Department of Defense pursuant to this section may be used for the pay and allowances of members of the Armed Forces, including— (1) basic pay; (2) allowances for subsistence and housing; (3) special and incentive pays; and (4) any other pay and allowances authorized by law. (e) Appropriations and funds made available, and authority granted, for any fiscal year for the Department of Defense pursuant to this section shall be available to the extent and in the manner that would be provided by the pertinent appropriation Act. (f) This section shall not be construed to affect the authority of the Secretary of Defense to reprogram funds or to transfer funds between appropriation accounts. (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections for chapter 13 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new item: “1352. Continuing appropriations for pay and allowances of the Armed Forces.”. SECTION 4. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.