Title: Recognizing the national debt as a threat to national security.
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance

Summary:
Recognizes that the national debt is a threat to national security and that deficits are unsustainable, irresponsible, and dangerous. Commits to restoring regular order to the appropriations process and immediately passing a balanced budget.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 919 Introduced in House (IH)]

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115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 919

    Recognizing the national debt as a threat to national security.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              June 5, 2018

Mr. Biggs (for himself, Mr. Meadows, Mr. Gosar, Mr. Budd, Mr. Duncan of 
South Carolina, Mr. Blum, Mr. Brat, Mr. Buck, Mr. Jordan, Mr. Garrett, 
 Mr. Weber of Texas, Mr. Norman, Mr. Johnson of Louisiana, Mr. Harris, 
 Mr. Brooks of Alabama, Mrs. Lesko, Mr. Yoho, Mr. Sanford, Mr. Curtis, 
   Mr. Perry, Mr. Jones, Mrs. Black, Mr. Schweikert, Mr. Rokita, Mr. 
 Posey, Mr. Smucker, Mr. Webster of Florida, Mr. Gibbs, Mr. Marshall, 
Mr. Zeldin, Mr. Smith of Texas, Mr. Grothman, Mr. Walker, Mr. Newhouse, 
    and Mr. DeSantis) 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 jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
    Recognizing the national debt as a threat to national security.

Whereas, on June 5, 2018, the current total public debt outstanding was more 
        than $21 trillion, resulting in a total interest expense of more than 
        $283 billion for fiscal year 2018;
Whereas, on May 31, 2018, the total public debt as a percentage of gross 
        domestic product was 106 percent;
Whereas the last balanced Federal budget was signed into law in 1997;
Whereas, in fiscal year 2017, Federal tax receipts totaled $3,315 billion, but 
        Federal outlays totaled $3,981 billion, leaving the Federal Government 
        with a one-year deficit of $666 billion;
Whereas every year since the last balanced budget was signed in 1997, Congress 
        has failed to reduce Federal spending and has continued to rely on 
        raising the debt ceiling;
Whereas Congress failed to pass a balanced budget in the 2018 Consolidated 
        Appropriations Act and failed to restore regular order to the 
        legislative process by not allowing Members of Congress to offer and 
        debate amendments;
Whereas regular order permits Congress 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 trustees project that the 
        Hospital Insurance Trust Fund will be depleted in 2026;
Whereas the Social Security and Medicare boards of trustees project that the 
        Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and Disability Insurance 
        Trust Fund will be depleted in 2034;
Whereas, on August 5, 2011, the United States credit rating was reduced by 
        Standard and Poor's from AAA to AA+ and has remained at that level, and 
        without a targeted effort to balance our budget our credit rating will 
        surely continue to fall;
Whereas President Donald Trump's National Security Strategy highlights the need 
        to reduce the debt through fiscal responsibility;
Whereas, on April 12, 2018, Secretary of Defense James Mattis warned, ``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 Defense 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 national 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 our 
        national security;
            (2) realizes deficits are unsustainable, irresponsible, and 
        dangerous;
            (3) commits to restoring regular order in the 
        appropriations process; and
            (4) commits to addressing our Nation's fiscal crisis 
        immediately by passing a balanced budget.
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