IV 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 190 
Recognizing the national debt as a threat to national security. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 1, 2023 
Mr. BIGGS submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Com-
mittee 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 jurisdic-
tion of the committee concerned 
RESOLUTION 
Recognizing the national debt as a threat to national 
security. 
Whereas, in January 2023, the total public debt outstanding 
was more than $31,400,000,000,000, resulting in a total 
interest expense of more than $717,611,000,000 for fis-
cal year 2022; 
Whereas, in January 2023, the total public debt as a percent-
age of gross domestic product was 121.00 percent; 
Whereas, in January 2023, the debt owed per citizen was 
$94,240 and $246,864 per taxpayer; 
Whereas the last balanced Federal budget was signed into 
law in 1997; 
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•HRES 190 IH 
Whereas, in fiscal year 2022, Federal tax receipts totaled 
$4,896,000,000,000, 
but 
Federal 
outlays 
totaled 
$6,272,000,000,000, leaving the Federal Government 
with a 1-year deficit of $1,376,000,000,000; 
Whereas every year since the last balanced Federal budget 
was signed in 1997, Congress has failed to maintain a 
fiscally responsible budget and has typically relied on 
raising the debt ceiling; 
Whereas the House of Representatives failed to pass a bal-
anced budget for fiscal year 2022 and failed to restore 
regular order to the legislative process by not allowing 
Representatives to offer and debate amendments; 
Whereas regular order permits the House of Representatives 
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 Trust-
ees project that the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust 
Fund will be depleted in 2028; 
Whereas the Social Security and Medicare Boards of Trust-
ees project that the Federal Old-Age and Survivors In-
surance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance 
Trust Fund will be depleted in 2034; 
Whereas without a targeted effort to balance the Federal 
budget, the credit rating of the United States is certain 
to continue to fall; 
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, in-
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•HRES 190 IH 
cluding more than $870,000,000,000 of which is owned 
by individuals in China; 
Whereas China and the European Union are developing alter-
native payment systems to weaken the dominant position 
of the United States dollar as a reserve currency; 
Whereas rapidly increasing interest rates will squeeze all pol-
icy priorities of the United States, including defense pol-
icy 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’’; 
Whereas, on March 6, 2018, former Director of National In-
telligence 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; 
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