III 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 87 

Recognizing the national debt as a threat to national security. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 1, 2023 

Mr. BRAUN (for himself, Mrs. BLACKBURN, Mr. CASSIDY, and Mr. SCOTT of 

Florida) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Finance 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the national debt as a threat to national 

security. 

Whereas, in January 2023, the total public debt outstanding 

was more than $31,000,000,000,000, resulting in a total 

interest expense of more than $717,611,000,000 for fiscal year 2022; 

Whereas, in January 2023, the total public debt as a percentage of gross domestic product was about 121 percent; 

Whereas, in January 2023, the debt owed per citizen was 

$94,240 and $246,864 per taxpayer; 

Whereas the last Federal budget surplus occurred in 2001; 

Whereas, in fiscal year 2022, Federal tax receipts totaled 

$4,896,000,000,000, but Federal outlays totaled 


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•SRES 87 IS 

$6,272,000,000,000, leaving the Federal Government 

with a 1-year deficit of $1,376,000,000,000; 

Whereas the Senate failed to pass a balanced budget for fiscal year 2022 and failed to restore regular order to the 

legislative process by not allowing Senators to offer and 

debate amendments; 

Whereas the Social Security and Medicare Boards of Trustees project that the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust 

Fund will be depleted in 2028; 

Whereas the Social Security and Medicare Boards of Trustees project that the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance 

Trust Fund will be depleted in 2034; 

Whereas improvements in the business climate in populous 

countries, and aging populations around the world, will 

likely contribute to higher global interest rates; 

Whereas more than $7,270,000,000,000 of Federal debt is 

owned by individuals not located in the United States, including more than $870,000,000,000 of which is owned 

by individuals in China; 

Whereas China and the European Union are developing alternative payment systems to weaken the dominant position 

of the United States dollar as a reserve currency; 

Whereas rapidly increasing interest rates would squeeze all 

policy priorities of the United States, including defense 

policy and foreign policy priorities; 

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

James Mattis warned that ‘‘any Nation that can’t keep 

its fiscal house in order eventually cannot maintain its 

military power’’; 


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•SRES 87 IS 

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 Senate— 

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

3 to the national security of the United States; 

4 (2) realizes that deficits are unsustainable, irre5 sponsible, and dangerous; 

6 (3) commits to restoring regular order in the 

7 appropriations process; and 

8 (4) commits to preventing the looming fiscal 

9 crisis faced by the United States. 

Æ 


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