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HR 819 116th Congress House Government Operations and Politics Administrative law and regulatory procedures Appropriations Civil actions and liability Contracts and agency Credit and credit markets Debt collection Executive agency funding and structure Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Interest, dividends, interest rates Landlord and tenant State and local government operations

Protecting Families from Government Shutdowns Act

Introduced: January 28, 2019 Introduced by: Lieu, Ted Democratic · California See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 116th Congress ended
It never became law before the 116th Congress (2019–2020) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jan 29, 2019
Referred to the Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce.
Jan 28, 2019
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Jan 28, 2019
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Protecting Families from Government Shutdowns Act

This bill makes it unlawful for an entity to do any of the following with respect to a person if the person is unable to meet an obligation because government service is unavailable during a lapse in appropriations: (1) debt collection; (2) collection of interest on loans accrued during the lapse; (3) eviction; (4) foreclosure; (5) acceleration or downgrading of credit; or (6) enforcement of any other obligation required by law or contract that relies on a government service that is unavailable during a lapse in appropriations.

Penalty provisions in a contract for services that is violated because of a lapse in appropriations and services shall be unenforceable.

The Federal Trade Commission and the states are given authority to enforce this bill.

What's happening now January 29, 2019

Referred to the Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 819: Protecting Families from Government Shutdowns Act. 116th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-819/
MLA
"H.R. 819: Protecting Families from Government Shutdowns Act." 116th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-819/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 819, 116th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-819/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 819: Protecting Families from Government Shutdowns Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-819/)
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