IV 

115TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 919 

Recognizing the national debt as a threat to national security. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 5, 2018 

Mr. BIGGS (for himself, Mr. MEADOWS, Mr. GOSAR, Mr. BUDD, Mr. DUNCAN

of South Carolina, Mr. BLUM, Mr. BRAT, Mr. BUCK, Mr. JORDAN, Mr. 

GARRETT, Mr. WEBER of Texas, Mr. NORMAN, Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana, Mr. HARRIS, Mr. BROOKS of Alabama, Mrs. LESKO, Mr. YOHO, 

Mr. SANFORD, Mr. CURTIS, Mr. PERRY, Mr. JONES, Mrs. BLACK, Mr. 

SCHWEIKERT, Mr. ROKITA, Mr. POSEY, Mr. SMUCKER, Mr. WEBSTER of 

Florida, Mr. GIBBS, Mr. MARSHALL, Mr. ZELDIN, Mr. SMITH of Texas, 

Mr. GROTHMAN, Mr. WALKER, Mr. NEWHOUSE, and Mr. DESANTIS) 

submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 

on the Budget, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 

for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case 

for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the 

committee concerned 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the national debt as a threat to national 

security. 

Whereas, on June 5, 2018, the current total public debt outstanding was more than $21 trillion, resulting in a total 

interest expense of more than $283 billion for fiscal year 

2018; 

Whereas, on May 31, 2018, the total public debt as a percentage of gross domestic product was 106 percent; 


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•HRES 919 IH 

Whereas the last balanced Federal budget was signed into 

law in 1997; 

Whereas, in fiscal year 2017, Federal tax receipts totaled 

$3,315 billion, but Federal outlays totaled $3,981 billion, 

leaving the Federal Government with a one-year deficit of 

$666 billion; 

Whereas every year since the last balanced budget was signed 

in 1997, Congress has failed to reduce Federal spending 

and has continued to rely on raising the debt ceiling; 

Whereas Congress failed to pass a balanced budget in the 

2018 Consolidated Appropriations Act and failed to restore regular order to the legislative process by not allowing Members of Congress to offer and debate amendments; 

Whereas regular order permits Congress to separately debate 

and adopt all appropriations bills in a timely fashion and 

facilitates congressional oversight of Federal spending; 

Whereas the Social Security and Medicare boards of trustees 

project that the Hospital Insurance Trust Fund will be 

depleted in 2026; 

Whereas the Social Security and Medicare boards of trustees 

project that the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust 

Fund and Disability Insurance Trust Fund will be depleted in 2034; 

Whereas, on August 5, 2011, the United States credit rating 

was reduced by Standard and Poor’s from AAA to AA+ 

and has remained at that level, and without a targeted 

effort to balance our budget our credit rating will surely 

continue to fall; 


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•HRES 919 IH 

Whereas President Donald Trump’s National Security Strategy highlights the need to reduce the debt through fiscal 

responsibility; 

Whereas, on April 12, 2018, Secretary of Defense James 

Mattis warned, ‘‘any nation that can’t keep its fiscal 

house in order eventually cannot maintain its military 

power’’; 

Whereas, on March 6, 2018, Director of National Intelligence 

Dan Coats warned, ‘‘Our continued plunge into debt is 

unsustainable and represents a dire future threat to our 

economy and to our national security’’; 

Whereas, on November 15, 2017, former Secretaries of Defense Leon Panetta, Ash Carter, and Chuck Hagel 

warned, ‘‘Increase in the debt will, in the absence of a 

comprehensive budget that addresses both entitlements 

and revenues force even deeper reductions in our national 

security capabilities’’; and 

Whereas, on September 22, 2011, former Chairman of the 

Joint Chiefs of Staff Michael Mullen warned, ‘‘I believe 

the single, biggest threat to our national security is 

debt’’: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) recognizes that the national debt is a threat 

3 to our national security; 

4 (2) realizes deficits are unsustainable, irrespon5 sible, and dangerous; 

6 (3) commits to restoring regular order in the 

7 appropriations process; and 


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•HRES 919 IH 

1 (4) commits to addressing our Nation’s fiscal 

2 crisis immediately by passing a balanced budget. 

Æ 


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