I 
113TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 233 
To amend chapter 31 of title 31, United States Code, to provide for an 
orderly process by which the debt ceiling is increased. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 14, 2013 
Mr. HONDA introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, for a 
period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for 
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the com-
mittee concerned 
A BILL 
To amend chapter 31 of title 31, United States Code, to 
provide for an orderly process by which the debt ceiling 
is increased. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. EXTENSION OF PRESIDENTIAL MODIFICATION 
OF THE DEBT CEILING. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 31 of title 31, United 
States Code, is amended by inserting after section 3101A 
the following new section: 
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‘‘§ 3101B. Extension of presidential modification of 
the debt ceiling 
‘‘(a) EXTENSION OF DEBT LIMIT.—Whenever the 
President submits a written certification to Congress that 
the President has determined that the debt subject to limit 
is within $100,000,000,000 of the limit in section 3101(b) 
and that further borrowing is required to meet existing 
commitments, the Secretary of the Treasury may exercise 
authority to borrow an additional amount that the Sec-
retary estimates is sufficient to meet commitments for one 
year, subject to the enactment of a joint resolution of dis-
approval enacted pursuant to this section. The written cer-
tification shall also contain the amount that the Secretary 
so estimates is sufficient. 
‘‘(b) JOINT RESOLUTION OF DISAPPROVAL.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The debt limit may not be 
raised under this section if, within 50 calendar days 
after the date on which Congress receives a certifi-
cation described in subsection (a), there is enacted 
into law a joint resolution disapproving the Presi-
dent’s exercise of authority with respect to such ad-
ditional amount. 
‘‘(2) CONTENTS OF JOINT RESOLUTION.—For 
the purpose of this section, the term ‘joint resolu-
tion’ means only a joint resolution— 
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‘‘(A) for the certification described in sub-
section (a); 
‘‘(B) which does not have a preamble; 
‘‘(C) the title of which is only as follows: 
‘Joint resolution relating to the disapproval of 
the President’s exercise of authority to increase 
the debt limit by $llllllll, as sub-
mitted under section 3101B of title 31, United 
States Code, on llllll’ (with the first 
blank containing the amount of such proposed 
increase and the second blank containing the 
date of such submission); and 
‘‘(D) the matter after the resolving clause 
of which is only as follows: ‘That Congress dis-
approves of the President’s exercise of authority 
to increase the debt limit, as exercised pursuant 
to the certification under section 3101B(a) of 
title 31, United States Code.’. 
‘‘(c) EXPEDITED CONSIDERATION; AMENDMENT NOT 
IN ORDER; COORDINATION WITH ACTION
BY OTHER 
HOUSE.—The provisions of subsections (c), (d), (e), and 
(f) of section 3101A shall apply to any joint resolution 
of disapproval under this section, except that— 
‘‘(1) the date set forth in section (d)(3) of such 
section; 
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‘‘(2) the exception for the $400,000,000,000 in-
crease described in subsection (f)(5) of such section; 
and 
‘‘(3) subsection (f)(6); 
shall be inapplicable.’’. 
(b) RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
AND SENATE.—Section 3101A(g) is amended by inserting 
‘‘and subsections (b) and (c) of section 3101B’’ before 
‘‘are enacted by Congress’’. 
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions for chapter 31 of title 31, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting after the item relating to section 
3101A the following new item: 
‘‘3101B. Extension of presidential modification of the debt ceiling.’’. 
Æ 
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