United States 116th Congress Status: In Committee 23 R cosponsors

HR 491 — ASAP Act

Last action — Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

Track this bill free

No card. One bill, free forever — alerts when it moves.

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 116th Congress. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

Armed Services Always Paid Act or ASAP Act This bill provides funding to continue the pay and allowances of members of the Armed Forces, including reserve personnel, during any period of lapsed appropriations.

Bill Text

How this bill changes current law

2 changes Share ↗

AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

The bill establishes a framework for the continuity of military pay during lapses in federal appropriations.

  • 37 U.S.C. Chapter 19

    Sec. 1016. Continuance of pay and allowances during periods of lapsed appropriations (a) Definitions.--In this section: (1) The term `military personnel accounts' mean the military personnel, reserve personnel, and National Guard personnel accounts of the Department of Defense, generally title I of an annual Department of Defense appropriations Act, and the corresponding accounts for the Department of Homeland Security used to provide pay and allowances for members of the Coast Guard. (2) The term `pay and allowances' means basic pay, bonuses and special pay, allowances and any other forms of compensation available for members of the armed forces under this title or otherwise paid from the military personnel accounts. (3) The term `period of lapsed appropriations', when used with respect to members of the armed forces, means any period during which appropriations are not available due to the absence of the timely enactment of any Act or joint resolution (including any Act or joint resolution making continuing appropriations) appropriating funds for the payment of the pay and allowances of members of the armed forces. (b) Appropriation of Funds To Continue Payment of Pay and Allowances.--For any period of lapsed appropriations, there are appropriated, out of any moneys in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, to the Secretary of Defense (and the Secretary of Homeland Security in the case of the Coast Guard) to allow the Secretary of Defense (and the Secretary of Homeland Security in the case of the Coast Guard) to continue to provide pay and allowances (without interruption) to members of the United States armed forces. (c) Limitation on Amounts Paid.--This section only authorizes the expenditure of funds during a period of lapsed appropriations for the pay and allowances of a member of the armed forces at a rate that is equal to the rate in effect for that member immediately before the start of the period of lapsed appropriations. The rate for a member may neither exceed the rate in effect immediately before the start of the period of lapsed appropriations nor be less than that rate, unless reduced by disciplinary action under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. (d) Relation to Other Pay Authorities.--This section shall not be construed to affect the entitlement of a member of the armed forces to an amount of pay and allowances that exceeds the amount of pay and allowances authorized to be paid under this section and to which the member becomes entitled under other applicable provisions of law. (e) Effect of End of Period of Lapsed Appropriations.--Expenditures made for any fiscal year pursuant to this section shall be charged to the applicable appropriation, fund, or authorization whenever the regular appropriation bill (or other bill or joint resolution making continuing appropriations through the end of the fiscal year) becomes law.

    This adds a new section that allows for the continuation of military pay during times when appropriations are not available.

  • 37 U.S.C. Chapter 19

    `1016. Continuance of pay and allowances during periods of lapsed appropriations.`

    This is a clerical amendment to the table of sections that adds a reference to the new section.

Action History

  1. Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

  2. Introduced in House

  3. Introduced in House

  4. Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

1 sponsors · 22 co-sponsors · 524 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (22)

Not signed on (524)

524 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 524 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

public-safety veterans
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does HR 491 do?
Armed Services Always Paid Act or ASAP Act This bill provides funding to continue the pay and allowances of members of the Armed Forces, including reserve personnel, during any period of lapsed appropriations.
Who sponsors HR 491?
HR 491 is sponsored by Gohmert, Louie (Republican), Mullin, Markwayne (Republican), King, Steve (Republican), Gosar, Paul A. (Republican), Jones, Walter B., Jr. (Republican), Meadows, Mark (Republican), Zeldin, Lee M. (Republican), Posey, Bill (Republican), Cole, Tom (Republican), Tipton, Scott R. (Republican), Grothman, Glenn (Republican), Huizenga, Bill (Republican), Weber, Randy K. Sr. (Republican), Higgins, Clay (Republican), Harris, Andy (Republican), Stefanik, Elise M. (Republican), Gianforte, Greg (Republican), Bergman, Jack (Republican), Olson, Pete (Republican), Arrington, Jodey C. (Republican), Joyce, John (Republican), Norman, Ralph (Republican), and Newhouse, Dan (Republican).
What is the current status of HR 491?
This bill died with 116th Congress. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track HR 491?
Track HR 491 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

Make your voice heard on HR 491

Find the representatives who decide this bill and tell them where you stand — for yourself, or mobilize your whole list in one click with One Click Politics advocacy software.

Find my representatives → Run a campaign

Stay ahead of HR 491

Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

One Click Politics tracks every bill in Congress and all 50 states.

Track this bill →