IV 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 686 

Directing the Clerk of the House of Representatives to place a real time 

display of the United States gross national debt in the main hearing 

room of the Committee on Appropriations and in the main hearing 

room of the Committee on the Budget. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

NOVEMBER 8, 2019 

Mr. ROY (for himself, Mr. BROOKS of Alabama, and Mr. DUNCAN) submitted 

the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on House 

Administration 

RESOLUTION 

Directing the Clerk of the House of Representatives to place 

a real time display of the United States gross national 

debt in the main hearing room of the Committee on 

Appropriations and in the main hearing room of the 

Committee on the Budget. 

Whereas Members of Congress should keep the gross national 

debt in mind when debating legislation that would affect 

the Nation’s fiscal situation; 

Whereas by displaying our national debt in real time in the 

main hearing room of the Committee on Appropriations 

and in the main hearing room of the Committee on the 

Budget, Members of Congress can better debate our Nation’s fiscal situation; 


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•HRES 686 IH 

Whereas the national debt is the greatest threat to the national security of the United States; 

Whereas the national debt has climbed past $23 trillion; 

Whereas the projected Federal deficit for 2020 is projected 

to be $1 trillion; 

Whereas we continue to accrue at least $100 million in debt 

every hour; 

Whereas Members of Congress refuse to balance the budget 

and reduce spending; 

Whereas spending increases year after year with no end in 

sight; 

Whereas the most recent spending bill has suspended the 

debt limit; 

Whereas a real-time display of the gross national debt will inform each Member of the Committees of the need to take 

action to reduce the debt; 

Whereas the exact amount of the gross national debt will be 

known and updated with every action affecting the 

amount of debt; and 

Whereas display of the national debt in the main hearing 

room of the Committee on Appropriations and in the 

main hearing room of the Committee on the Budget of 

the House of Representatives will be a sign that representatives are committed to reducing the national debt: 

Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, 

2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

3 This Resolution may be cited as the ‘‘Know Debt 

4 Resolution’’. 


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•HRES 686 IH 

1 SEC. 2. PLACEMENT OF NATIONAL DEBT CLOCK IN THE 

2 MAIN HEARING ROOM OF THE COMMITTEE 

3 ON APPROPRIATIONS AND IN THE MAIN 

4 HEARING ROOM OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE 

5 BUDGET. 

6 (a) RESPONSIBILITIES OF CLERK.—The Clerk of the 

7 House of Representatives shall place a real-time display 

8 of the United States gross national debt, as calculated by 

9 the Secretary of the Treasury, in the main hearing room 

10 of the Committee on Appropriations and in the main hear11 ing room of the Committee on the Budget in clear view 

12 of the Members. 

13 (b) REGULATIONS.—The Clerk shall carry out this 

14 resolution in accordance with regulations promulgated by 

15 the Committee on House Administration. 

Æ 


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