A new bill in Congress would ensure that active duty and reserve troops, along with Coast Guard members, would continue getting paid if there is a government shutdown, Stars and Stripes reported.

“As a former Navy helicopter pilot, wife of a veteran and mom of a service member, I know firsthand the sacrifices military families make every single day,” said Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-Va.), who introduced the Pay Our Troops Act. “The last thing they should face is financial uncertainty caused by partisan gridlock.”

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The House is set to vote this week on a continuing resolution to keep current government spending levels through Nov. 20, but it’s not clear if he has the votes in the House. All but one House Republican voted Wednesday to bring the bill to the floor, but a handful have expressed skepticism about the approach.

It’s also unclear whether the House’s continuing resolution could pass the Senate, where it would need Democratic support.

Democratic appropriators introduced an alternative stopgap spending bill with health care and energy provisions and an extension of funding through Oct. 31, according to a press release.

A continuing resolution is necessary to keep the government open, because Congress has passed none of the 12 annual appropriations bills for next fiscal year, which starts Oct. 1.

Navy photo of Kiggans by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Dustin Knight