IV 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 149 
Recognizing the national debt as a threat to national security. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 26, 2019 
Mr. BIGGS (for himself, Mr. ARRINGTON, Mr. BALDERSON, Mr. BROOKS of 
Alabama, Mr. BUCK, Mr. BUDD, Mr. BURCHETT, Mr. CLOUD, Mr. COLE, 
Mr. DAVIDSON of Ohio, Mr. DESJARLAIS, Mr. DUNCAN, Mr. GAETZ, Mr. 
GIBBS, Mr. GOSAR, Mr. GOHMERT, Mr. GROTHMAN, Mr. HARRIS, Mr. 
KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma, Mr. HOLDING, Mr. JORDAN, Mrs. LESKO, 
Mr. MARSHALL, Mr. MCCLINTOCK, Mr. MEADOWS, Mr. MOONEY of West 
Virginia, Mr. NORMAN, Mr. PALMER, Mr. PERRY, Mr. POSEY, Mr. ROY, 
Mr. SCHWEIKERT, Mr. WEBER of Texas, Mr. WEBSTER of Florida, Mr. 
WILLIAMS, Mr. WRIGHT, Mr. BABIN, Mr. CLINE, Mr. GREEN of Ten-
nessee, Mr. HICE
of Georgia, Mr. JOHNSON
of Louisiana, Mr. 
NEWHOUSE, Mr. SPANO, Mr. WESTERMAN, Mr. YOHO, Mr. SMUCKER, 
Mr. STEUBE, Mr. WALKER, Mr. ARMSTRONG, Mr. EMMER, and Mr. 
TIMMONS) 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 juris-
diction of the committee concerned 
RESOLUTION 
Recognizing the national debt as a threat to national 
security. 
Whereas, in February 2019, the total public debt outstanding 
was more than $22,000,000,000,000, resulting in a total 
interest expense of more than $192,000,000,000 for fis-
cal year 2019; 
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•HRES 149 IH 
Whereas, without a targeted effort to balance the Federal 
budget, the credit rating of the United States is certain 
to continue to fall; 
Whereas the National Security Strategy issued by President 
Donald Trump highlights the need to reduce the national 
debt through fiscal responsibility; 
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’’; 
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 De-
fense 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 na-
tional 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 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) recognizes that the national debt is a threat 
to the national security of the United States; 
(2) realizes that deficits are unsustainable, irre-
sponsible, and dangerous; 
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•HRES 149 IH 
(3) commits to restoring regular order in the 
appropriations process; and 
(4) commits to addressing the fiscal crisis faced 
by the United States. 
Æ 
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