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 Na-
tion’s fiscal situation; 
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•HRES 686 IH 
Whereas the national debt is the greatest threat to the na-
tional 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 in-
form 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 rep-
resentatives are committed to reducing the national debt: 
Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Resolution may be cited as the ‘‘Know Debt 
Resolution’’. 
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•HRES 686 IH 
SEC. 2. PLACEMENT OF NATIONAL DEBT CLOCK IN THE 
MAIN HEARING ROOM OF THE COMMITTEE 
ON APPROPRIATIONS AND IN THE MAIN 
HEARING ROOM OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE 
BUDGET. 
(a) RESPONSIBILITIES OF CLERK.—The Clerk of the 
House of Representatives shall place a real-time display 
of the United States gross national debt, as calculated by 
the Secretary of the Treasury, in the main hearing room 
of the Committee on Appropriations and in the main hear-
ing room of the Committee on the Budget in clear view 
of the Members. 
(b) REGULATIONS.—The Clerk shall carry out this 
resolution in accordance with regulations promulgated by 
the Committee on House Administration. 
Æ 
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