IV 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 631 
Recognizing the national debt as a threat to national security. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
AUGUST 5, 2025 
Mr. BIGGS of Arizona (for himself, Mr. DONALDS, Mr. GOSAR, Mr. WEBSTER 
of Florida, and Mr. NEWHOUSE) 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 de-
termined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions 
as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
RESOLUTION 
Recognizing the national debt as a threat to national 
security. 
Whereas, in January 2025, the total public debt outstanding 
was more than $36,200,000,000,000, resulting in a total 
interest expense of more than $1,130,000,000,000 for 
fiscal year 2024; 
Whereas, in January 2025, the total public debt as a percent-
age of gross domestic product was 120.87 percent; 
Whereas, in January 2025, the debt owed per citizen was 
$104,780 and $323,045 per taxpayer; 
Whereas the last balanced Federal budget was signed into 
law in 1997; 
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•HRES 631 IH 
Whereas, in fiscal year 2024, Federal tax receipts totaled 
$5,082,000,000,000, 
but 
Federal 
outlays 
totaled 
$6,941,000,000,000, leaving the Federal Government 
with a 1-year deficit of $1,859,000,000,000; 
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 2024 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 2033; 
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 $8,500,000,000,000 of Federal debt is 
owned by individuals not located in the United States, in-
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•HRES 631 IH 
cluding more than $759,000,000,000 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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•HRES 631 IH 
(2) realizes that deficits are unsustainable, irre-
sponsible, and dangerous; 
(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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