Votes on Measures to Adjust the Statutory
Debt Limit, 1978 to Present

Justin Murray
Information Research Specialist
May 10, 2011
Congressional Research Service
7-5700
www.crs.gov
R41814
CRS Report for Congress
P
repared for Members and Committees of Congress

Votes on Measures to Adjust the Statutory Debt Limit, 1978 to Present

Summary
Almost all borrowing by the federal government is conducted by the Treasury Department, within
the restrictions established by a single, statutory limit (ceiling) on the total amount of debt that
may be outstanding at any time. By law, the Treasury cannot exceed federal debt limits, so the
Treasury periodically has had to ask Congress to enact new debt limits so it can fulfill its financial
commitments. Since 1978, the statutory federal debt limit has been changed 51 times by Congress
through the enactment of legislation adjusting the federal debt limit, either as stand-alone
legislation or as part of legislation dealing with other matters.
This report provides roll call vote data identified by the Congressional Research Service for
measures to adjust the statutory debt limit. This report will be updated as events warrant.

Congressional Research Service

Votes on Measures to Adjust the Statutory Debt Limit, 1978 to Present

Contents
Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 1
Debt Limit Votes: 1978 to Present ............................................................................................... 1
Selected CRS Reports and Resources ........................................................................................ 12

Tables
Table 1. Roll Call Votes on Enacted Measures to Adjust the Federal Debt Limit .......................... 2
Table 2. Stand-Alone Debt Limit Measures ................................................................................. 6
Table 3. Other Than Stand-Alone Debt Limit Measures ............................................................... 8

Contacts
Author Contact Information ...................................................................................................... 12

Congressional Research Service

Votes on Measures to Adjust the Statutory Debt Limit, 1978 to Present

Introduction
Almost all borrowing by the federal government is conducted by the Treasury Department, within
the restrictions established by a single, statutory limit (ceiling) on the total amount of debt that
may be outstanding at any time. By law, the Treasury cannot exceed federal debt limits, so the
Treasury periodically has had to ask Congress to enact new debt limits so it can fulfill its financial
commitments. Since 1978, the statutory federal debt limit has been changed 51 times by Congress
through the enactment of legislation adjusting the federal debt limit, either as stand-alone
legislation or as part of legislation dealing with other matters. This report contains information on
votes identified by the Congressional Research Service, from the Legislative Information System
(LIS, http://www.congress.gov), as final passage actions for those measures containing changes to
the statutory debt limit from 1978 to the present.
This report provides tallies of votes on final passage for each enacted measure that adjusted the
statutory debt limit from 1978 to present. The process for congressional consideration of bills can
be complex. Attempting to interpret the intent of votes prior to the final vote on passage of a
measure may yield various, and sometimes conflicting, interpretations. For the sake of clarity, the
report provides vote information on the final passage of each measure.1
Debt Limit Votes: 1978 to Present
As noted above, this report identifies information on debt limit legislation and votes on final
enactment in the House and Senate. Other data elements identified in the tables below include bill
number; whether final passage involved a roll call vote, voice vote, or passage by unanimous
consent; dates of final passage and vote tally information; dates of enactment and public law
number for the enacted law; and brief background information on whether the measure was
considered a stand-alone measure (i.e., dealing entirely with just a change to the federal debt limit
and not including provisions on other matters).
Table 1 provides information on all enacted measures to increase or otherwise change the federal
debt limit from 1978 to 2010, including data on the changes to the federal debt limit set at the
time of enactment. The bill number and public law columns of the table provide links to LIS bill
summary and status information for each measure. Roll call votes on final enactment can be
extracted through the major actions display for each measure within LIS back to 1993.2 Also,
Table 1 contains cross-references to the notes columns in Table 2 and Table 3. The notes
columns in those tables provide additional details on how each measure was considered.

1 More detailed information on methods employed by Congress to adjust the statutory debt limit appear in CRS Report
RS21519, Legislative Procedures for Adjusting the Public Debt Limit: A Brief Overview, by Bill Heniff Jr.
2 Complete House and Senate roll call vote information is available in LIS back to 1993. Bill number and public law
links in Table 1 connect to bill summary and status information for all measures back to 1978. For the measures listed
from 1993 to the present, member roll call votes can be extracted from the LIS bill summary and status display by
clicking on major actions and online links provided to the House and Senate roll call information.
Congressional Research Service
1

Votes on Measures to Adjust the Statutory Debt Limit, 1978 to Present

Table 2 identifies stand-alone measures from the period. Table 3 identifies bills considered as
other than stand-alone measures3 and provides brief background information on the nature of
each measure and by what means it was considered.
Table 1. Roll Call Votes on Enacted Measures to Adjust the Federal Debt Limit
(1978 to 2010)
Final House & Senate
Vote Tally & Date of
Votes
Public Law
Temporary
Number &
Debt Limit
Provisions
Date of
Amount
Expiration
Year Bill
Number House Senate
Enactment ($ in billions)
Date
1978
H.R. 11518
233-172
Voice Vote
P.L. 95-252
$752.0 8/01/1978
3/21/1978
3/22/1978
3/27/1978
H.R. 13385
205-202
62-31
P.L. 95-333
$798 3/31/1979
7/19/1978
8/02/1978
8/03/1978
1979
H.R. 2534
209-165
62-33
P.L. 96-5
$830 9/30/1979
(H.Res. 183,
3/27/1979
4/02/1979
4/2/1979)
(See notes
column in
Table 3)
H.R. 5369
219-198
49-29
P.L. 96-78
$879 5/31/1980
9/26/1979
9/28/1979
9/29/1979
1980
H.R. 7471
Voice Vote
47-10
P.L. 96-256
same 6/5/1980
5/30/1980
5/30/1980
5/30/1980
H.R. 7428
335-34
68-10
P.L. 96-264
same 6/30/1980
6/05/1980
6/06/1980
6/06/1980
H.J.Res. 569
6/13/1980
54-39
P.L. 96-286
$925 2/28/1981
(See notes
6/28/1980
6/28/1980
column in
Table 2)
H.J.Res. 570
6/13/1980
Voice Vote
P.L. 96-556
$935.1 None
(See notes
12/12/1981
12/19/1980
column in
Table 2)

3 Table 3 below provides brief background information on whether measures were considered as other than stand-alone
bills, either containing a change to the debt limit as part of a measure dealing with other matters (including omnibus or
consolidated measures or part of continuing resolutions) or pursuant to House rules or budget resolution and budget
reconciliation activities.
Congressional Research Service
2

Votes on Measures to Adjust the Statutory Debt Limit, 1978 to Present

Final House & Senate
Vote Tally & Date of
Votes
Public Law
Temporary
Number &
Debt Limit
Provisions
Date of
Amount
Expiration
Year Bill
Number House Senate
Enactment ($ in billions)
Date
1981
H.R. 1553
305-104
73-18
P.L. 97-2
$985 9/30/1981
2/05/1981
2/06/1981
2/07/1981
H.J.Res. 266
5/21/1981
Voice Vote
P.L. 97-48
$999.8 9/30/1981
(See notes
9/29/1981
9/30/1981
column in
Table 2)
H.J.Res. 265
5/21/1981
64-34
P.L. 97-49
$1,079.8 9/28/1981
(See notes
09/29/1981
9/30/1981
column in
Table 2)
1982
H.J.Res. 519
6/23/1982
49-41
P.L. 97-204
$1,143.1 9/30/1982
(See notes
6/23/1982
6/28/1982
column in
Table 2)
H.J.Res. 520
6/23/1982
50-41
P.L. 97-270
$1,290.2 9/30/1983
(See notes
9/23/1982
9/30/1982
column in
Table 2)
1983
H.R. 2990
Voice Vote
51-41
P.L. 98-34
$1,389 None
5/18/1983
5/25/1983
5/26/1983
H.J.Res. 308
214-186
Voice Vote
P.L. 98-161
$1,490 None
11/18/1983
11/17/1983
11/21/1983
1984
H.R. 5692
211-198
Voice Vote
P.L. 98-302
$1,520 None
5/24/1984
5/24/1984
5/25/1984
H.R. 5953
208-202
Voice Vote
P.L. 98-342
$1,573 None
6/29/1984
6/29/1984
7/06/1984
H.J.Res. 654
Unanimous
37-30
P.L. 98-475
$1,823.8 None
Consent
10/12/1984
10/13/1984
10/01/1984
1985
H.R. 3721
300-121
Voice Vote
P.L. 99-155
$1,903.8 12/06/1985
11/13/1985
11/13/1985
11/14/1985
H.J.Res. 372
271-154
61-31
P.L. 99-177
$2,078.7 None
12/11/1985
12/11/1985
12/12/1985
1986
H.R. 5395
216-199
36-35
P.L. 99-384
$2,111 None
8/14/1986
8/15/1986
8/21/1986
H.R. 5300
305-70
61-25
P.L. 99-509
$2,300 5/15/1987
10/17/1986
10/17/1986
10/21/1986
1987
H.R. 2360
296-124
58-36
P.L. 100-40
$2,320 7/17/1987
5/13/1987
5/14/1987
5/15/1987
H.R. 3022
263-155
Voice Vote
P.L. 100-80
same 8/06/1987
7/29/1987
7/29/1987
7/30/1987
H.R. 3190
Voice Vote
51-39
P.L. 100-84
$2,352 9/23/1987
8/07/1987
8/07/1987
8/10/1987
Congressional Research Service
3

Votes on Measures to Adjust the Statutory Debt Limit, 1978 to Present

Final House & Senate
Vote Tally & Date of
Votes
Public Law
Temporary
Number &
Debt Limit
Provisions
Date of
Amount
Expiration
Year Bill
Number House Senate
Enactment ($ in billions)
Date
H.J.Res. 324
230-176
64-34
P.L. 100-119
$2,800 None
9/22/1987
9/23/1987
9/29/1987
1989
H.R. 3024
231-185
Voice Vote
P.L. 101-72
$2,870 10/31/1989
8/01/1989
8/04/1989
8/07/1989
H.J.Res. 280
11/07/1989
Voice Vote
P.L. 101-140
$3,122.7 None
269-99
11/07/1989
11/08/1989
1990
H.R. 5350
247-172
Voice Vote
P.L. 101-350
$3,195 10/02/1990
8/03/1990
8/03/1990
8/09/1990
H.R. 5755
Voice Vote
Unanimous
P.L. 101-405
same 10/06/1990
9/30/1990
Consent
10/02/1990
09/30/1990
H.J.Res. 666
362-3
Voice Vote
P.L. 101-412
same 10/09/1990
10/09/1990
10/08/1990
10/09/1990
H.J.Res. 677
379-37
Voice Vote
P.L. 101-444
same 10/24/1990
10/18/1990
10/19/1990
10/19/1990
H.J.Res. 681
380-45
Unanimous
P.L. 101-461
same 10/27/1990
10/24/1990
Consent
10/25/1990
10/24/1990
H,J. Res. 687
283-49
Voice Vote
P.L. 101-467
$3,230 11/05/1990
10/27/1990
10/27/1990
10/28/1990
H.R. 5835
228-200
54-45
P.L. 101-508
$4,145 None
10/26/1990
10/27/1990
11/05/1990
1993
H.R. 1430
237-177
Unanimous
P.L. 103-12
$4,370 09/30/1993
4/02/1993
Consent
4/06/1993
4/05/1993
H.R. 2264
218-216
51-50
P.L. 103-66
$4,900 None
8/05/1993
8/06/1993
8/10/1993
1996
H.R. 2924
396-0
Unanimous
P.L. 104-103
(See notes
03/15/1990
2/01/1996
Consent
02/08/1996
column in
2/01/1996
Table 3)
H.R. 3021
362-51
Voice Vote
P.L. 104-115
(See notes
3/30/1990
3/07/1996
3/07/1996
3/12/1996
column in
Table 3)
H.R. 3136
328-91
Unanimous
P.L. 104-121
$5,500 None
3/28/1996
Consent
3/29/1996
3/28/1996
1997 H.R.
2015
346-85 85-15
P.L. 105-33
$5,950 None
07/30/1997
7/31/1997
8/05/1997
2002 S.
2578 215-214-1
68-29
P.L. 107-199
$6,400 None
6/27/2002
6/11/2002
6/28/2002
Congressional Research Service
4

Votes on Measures to Adjust the Statutory Debt Limit, 1978 to Present

Final House & Senate
Vote Tally & Date of
Votes
Public Law
Temporary
Number &
Debt Limit
Provisions
Date of
Amount
Expiration
Year Bill
Number House Senate
Enactment ($ in billions)
Date
2003 H.J.Res.
51
216-211 53-44
P.L. 108-24
$7,384 None
H.Con.Res.
5/23/2003
5/27/2003
95
04/11/2003
(See notes
column in
Table 2)
2004 S.
2986 208-204 52-44
P.L. 108-415
$8,184 None
11/18/2004
11/17/2004
11/19/2004
2005 H.J.Res.
47
4/28/2005
52-48
P.L. 109-182
$8,965 None
(See notes
3/16/2005
3/20/2006
column in
Table 2)
2007 H.J.Res.
43
5/17/2007
53-42
P.L. 110-91
$9,815 None
(See notes
9/27/2007
9/29/2007
column in
Table 2)
2008
H.R. 3221
272-152
72-13
P.L. 110-289
$10,615 None
7/23/2008
7/26/2008
7/30/2008
H.R. 1424
263-171
74-25
P.L. 110-343
$11,315 None
10/03/2008
10/1/2008
10/3/2008
2009
H.R. 1
246-183-1
60-38
P.L. 111-5
$12,104 None
2/13/2009
2/13/2009
2/17/2009
H.R. 4314
218-214
60-39
P.L. 111-123
$12,394 None
12/16/2009
12/24/2009
12/28/2009
2010 H.J.Res.
45
233-187 60-39
P.L. 111-139
$14,294 None
2/04/2010
1/28/2010
2/12/2010
Sources: The LIS available at http://www.congress.gov, Annual Congressional Quarterly Almanac volumes, CRS
Report RL31967, The Debt Limit: History and Recent Increases, by D. Andrew Austin and Mindy R. Levit, and out-
of-print CRS Report 97-297, Debt Limit Increases, 1978 to 1996: Fact Sheet and Uses of the Debt Limit for Other
Legislation. Enacted levels of Statutory Debt Limit were obtained from the FY2012 Budget Historical Tables
volume, Table 7.3.
Notes: For more information on temporary and permanent increases, see Table 7.3 of the FY2012 Budget
Historical Tables. Measures in Table 1 are organized by year of initial consideration of each measure.
Congressional Research Service
5

Votes on Measures to Adjust the Statutory Debt Limit, 1978 to Present

Table 2. Stand-Alone Debt Limit Measures
(1978-2010)
Year of
Public Law Number &
Descriptive Notes on
Enactment
Bill Number
Date of Enactment
the Measure
1978
H.R. 11518
P.L. 95-252
None
3/27/1978
H.R. 13385
P.L. 95-333
None
8/03/1978
1980
H.R. 7471
P.L. 96-256
None
6/06/1980
H.J.Res. 569
P.L. 96-286
On June 13, 1980, the day after Congress
6/28/1980
completed action on the FY1981 Budget
Resolution, H.Con.Res. 307, it’s projected
debt increase was incorporated into H.J.Res.
569, which was then deemed to have been
passed by the House. The measure was
enacted as P.L. 96-286 and included a
temporary extension of the debt limit from
June 30, 1980 to February 28, 1981.
H.J. Res. 570
P.L. 96-556
A debt limit increase was incorporated in H.
12/19/1980
Con. Res. 307, the FY1981 Budget Resolution
passed by the House on June 12, 1980 by a
vote of 205-195. H.J. Res. 570 was enacted as
P.L. 96-556. The enacted measure included a
temporary extension of the debt limit from
February 28, 1981 to September 30, 1982.
1981
H.R. 1553
P.L. 97-2
None
2/07/1981
H.J. Res. 266
P.L. 97-48
H.J. Res. 266 was engrossed and deemed
9/30/1981
passed by the House on May 21, 1981. After
passing the Senate, H.J. Res. 266 was enacted
as P.L. 97-48 on September 30, 1981. The
measure raised the temporary debt limit
without altering its September 30, 1981
expiration date.
H.J. Res. 265
P.L. 97-49
A debt limit figure from H. Con. Res. 307, the
9/30/1981
FY1981 Budget Resolution, was incorporated
into H.J. Res. 265 without a vote. P.L. 97-49
as enacted extended the temporary limit
from September 30, 1981 to September 30,
1982.
1982
H.J. Res. 519
P.L. 97-204
S. Con. Res. 92, the FY1983 Budget
6/28/1982
Resolution, automatically incorporated
respective debt limit increases in H.J. Res.
519 and H.J. Res. 520. Both measures were
engrossed by the House on June 23, 1982.
H.J. Res. 520 also extended the temporary
debt limit from September 30, 1982 to
September 30, 1983.
H.J. Res. 520
P.L. 97-270
See notes above on H.J. Res. 519.
9/30/1982
Congressional Research Service
6

Votes on Measures to Adjust the Statutory Debt Limit, 1978 to Present

Year of
Public Law Number &
Descriptive Notes on
Enactment
Bill Number
Date of Enactment
the Measure
1983
H.J. Res. 308
P.L. 98-161
None
11/21/1983
1984
H.R. 5953
P.L. 98-342
None
7/6/1984
H.J. Res. 654
P.L. 98-475
None
10/13/1984
1986
H.R. 5395
P.L. 99-384
None
8/21/1986
1987
H.R. 2360
P.L. 100-40
None
5/15/1987
H.R. 3022
P.L. 100-80
None
7/30/1987
H.R. 3190
P.L. 100-84
None
8/10/1987
1990
H.R. 5350
P.L. 101-350
None
8/09/1990
H.R. 5755
P.L. 101-405
None
10/02/1990
1993
H.R. 1430
P.L. 103-12
None
4/06/1993
2002
S. 2578
P.L. 107-199
The House roll cal votes on P.L. 107-199
6/28/2002
included one member voting “present.”
2003
H.J. Res. 51
P.L. 108-24
On April 11, 2003 pursuant to Rule XXVII,
5/27/2003
H.J. Res. 51 was deemed to have passed the
House as a result of the adoption by the
House and the Senate of the conference
report for H. Con. Res. 95, the FY2004
Budget Resolution.
2004
S. 2986
P.L. 108-415
None
11/19/2004
2006
H.J. Res. 47
P.L. 109-182
H.J. Res. 47 (P.L. 109-182) was passed
3/20/2006
pursuant to Rule XXVII and H.Con.Res. 95,
the FY2006 Budget Resolution.
2007
H.J. Res 43
P.L. 110-91
H.J. Res. 43 (P.L. 110-91) was passed by the
9/29/2007
House pursuant to provisions in S. Con. Res.
21, the FY2008 Budget Resolution.
2009
H.R. 4314
P.L. 111-123
None
12/28/2009
Source: The LIS, available at http://www.congress.gov, Annual Congressional Quarterly Almanac volumes, CRS
Report RL31967, The Debt Limit: History and Recent Increases, by D. Andrew Austin and Mindy R. Levit, and out-
of-print CRS Report 97-297, Debt Limit Increases, 1978 to 1996: Fact Sheet and Uses of the Debt Limit for Other
Legislation.
Notes: Vote tally, enacted debt limit amounts, and other data are available in Table 1. Measures in Table 2 are
organized by year of enactment.
Congressional Research Service
7

Votes on Measures to Adjust the Statutory Debt Limit, 1978 to Present

Table 3. Other Than Stand-Alone Debt Limit Measures
(1978-2010)
Public Law
Year of
Number & Date
Enactment Bill
Number of Enactment
Type of Measure
Notes on the Measure
1979
H.R. 2534
P.L. 96-5
Change to Debt Limit
P.L. 96-5 included an increase
4/02/1979
included as provision
in savings bonds yields and
within measure on
required the Congress and the
other matters
President to present budgets
that would be in balance for
FY1981 and FY1982. See also
H. Res. 183, a resolution
concurring in amendments to
H.R. 2534 as passed by the
Senate. H. Res. 183 was passed
by the House on April 2, 1979
by a vote of 209-165. House
Roll Vote #133.
H.R. 5369
P.L. 96-78
Change to Debt Limit
P.L. 96-78 included an increase
9/29/1979
included within measure in the amount of long-term
on other matters
bonds that could be
outstanding and established
House Rule 49 making the
increase in the debt limit part
of the budget process (in the
House).
1980
H.R. 7428
P.L. 96-264
Change to Debt Limit
P.L. 96-264 included a repeal
6/06/1980
included within measure of the Presidentially imposed
on other matters
oil import fee under section
232(b) of the Trade Expansion
Act of 1962, 19 U.S.C.
18629(b). This legislation was
passed over a Presidential
veto.
1983
H.R. 2990
P.L. 98-34
Change to Debt Limit
P.L. 98-34 included making the
5/26/1983
included within measure whole debt limit permanent
on other matters
and increasing the amount of
long-term bonds that could be
issued.
1984
H.R. 5692
P.L. 98-302
Change to Debt Limit
P.L. 98-302 included an
5/25/1984
included within measure increase in the amount of long-
on other matters
term bonds that could be
issued and provided some
miscel aneous administrative
authority to the Secretary of
the Treasury.
Congressional Research Service
8

Votes on Measures to Adjust the Statutory Debt Limit, 1978 to Present

Public Law
Year of
Number & Date
Enactment Bill
Number of Enactment
Type of Measure
Notes on the Measure
1985
H.R. 3721
P.L. 99-155
Change to Debt Limit
P.L. 99-155 included a
11/14/1985
included within measure requirement to restore Social
on other matters
Security Trust Funds and to
extend for a month a number
of expiring acts, including a
cigarette tax.
H.J. Res. 372
P.L. 99-177
Change in Debt Limit
H.J. Res. 372, enacted as P.L.
12/12/1985
included as part of
99-177, was also a vehicle for
Balanced Budget and
the Balanced Budget and
Deficit Reduction
Emergency Deficit Reduction Act
measure
of 1985. The legislation also
required the Senate Finance
Committee and the House
Ways and Means Committee
to report by July 1, 1986,
legislation for alternative
minimum corporate tax.
1986
H.R. 5300
P.L. 99-509
Change to Debt Limit
P.L. 99-509, the Omnibus
10/21/1986
included in Budget
Budget Reconciliation Act of
Reconciliation measure
1986, included a debt limit
increase to section 8201 of
Title VII of the act. Section
8201 also required the
restoration of lost interest to
certain trust funds.
1987
H.J. Res. 324
P.L. 100-119
Change in Debt Limit
H.J. Res. 324 was also used as
9/29/1987
included as part of a
the legislative vehicle for the
Balanced Budget and
Balanced Budget and Emergency
Deficit Reduction
Deficit Control and Reaffirmation
measure
Act of 1987.
1989
H.R. 3024
P.L. 101-72
Change to Debt Limit
P.L. 101-72 included a change
8/07/1989
within measure on
in the method of accounting
other matters
for federal debt instruments.
H.J. Res. 280
P.L. 101-140
Change in Debt Limit
Pursuant to the provisions of
11/08/1989
included within measure H. Con. Res. 106, the FY1990
on other matters
Budget Resolution, H.J. Res.
289 was considered passed by
the House on May 17, 1989.
The House vote on the
Conference Report for H.
Con. Res. 106 was 241-185.
P.L. 101-140 included a repeal
of section 89
nondiscrimination, rules that
dealt with employee benefit
plans.
Congressional Research Service
9

Votes on Measures to Adjust the Statutory Debt Limit, 1978 to Present

Public Law
Year of
Number & Date
Enactment Bill
Number of Enactment
Type of Measure
Notes on the Measure
1990
H.J. Res. 666
P.L. 101-412
Change in Debt Limit
H. J. Res. 666 was a continuing
10/09/1990
included within measure appropriations measure that
on other matters
included a debt limit extension.
The House initially passed the
measure by a vote of 305-105
on October 7, 1990. The
Senate took up the measure
and then passed it by
unanimous consent. The
House then passed the Senate
amended measure on October
9, 1990 by a vote of 36203.
The measure passed the
Senate by unanimous consent
on October 8, 1990 and was
enacted as P.L. 101-412 on
October 9, 1990
H.J. Res. 677
P.L. 101-444
Change in Debt Limit
None
10/19/1990
included in a continuing
resolution
H.J. Res. 681
P.L. 101-461
Change in Debt Limit
None
10/25/1990
included in a continuing
resolution
H.J. Res. 687
P.L. 101-467
Change in Debt Limit
None
10/28/1990
included in a continuing
resolution
H.R. 5835
P.L. 101-508
Change to Debt Limit
A debt limit increase was
11/05/1990
included in Budget
included in section 11901 of
Reconciliation measure
Title XI of the Omnibus
Budget Reconciliation Act of
1990, P.L. 101-508.
1993
H.R. 2264
P.L. 103-66
Change to Debt Limit
A debt limit increase was
8/10/1993
included in Budget
included in section 13411 of
Reconciliation measure
Title XIII of the Omnibus
Budget Reconciliation Act of
1993, P.L. 103-66.
Congressional Research Service
10

Votes on Measures to Adjust the Statutory Debt Limit, 1978 to Present

Public Law
Year of
Number & Date
Enactment Bill
Number of Enactment
Type of Measure
Notes on the Measure
1996
H.R. 2924
P.L. 104-103
Addressed parameters
P.L. 104-103 temporarily
2/08/1996
and temporary
exempted from limit
exemptions of certain
obligations in an amount equal
Social Security related
to the monthly insurance
funds from the debt
benefits payable under Title II
limit
of the Social Security Act in
March 1996, The exemption
was set to expire in the event
of an increase in the debt limit
or by March 15, 1996. P.L.
104-115 temporarily exempted
from limit obligations in an
amount equal to the monthly
insurance benefits payable
under Title II of the Social
Security Act in March 1996 and
certain obligations issued to
trust funds and other Federal
Government accounts, The
exemption was set to expire
on the earlier of an increase in
the limit or by March 30, 1996.
H.R. 3021
P.L. 104-115
Addressed parameters
P.L. 104-115 temporarily
3/12/1996
and temporary
exempted from limit
exemptions of certain
obligations in an amount equal
Social Security related
to the monthly insurance
funds from the debt
benefits payable under Title II
limit
of the Social Security Act in
March 1996 and certain
obligations issued to trust
funds and other Federal
Government accounts. The
exemption was set to expire
on the earlier of an increase in
the limit or by March 30, 1996.
H.R. 3136
P.L. 104-121
Change to Debt Limit
P.L. 104-121, the Contract with
3/29/1996
within measure on
America Advancement Act,
other matters
included an increase in the
debt limit in Title III.
1997
H.R. 2015
P.L. 105-33
Change to the Debt
P.L. 107-199, the Balanced
8/05/1997
Limit included in
Budget Act of 1997 included a
Balanced Budget
debt limit increase in Title V,
measure
Subtitle G.
2008
H.R. 3221
P.L. 110-289
Change to Debt Limit
H.R. 3221 (P.L. 109-289), the
7/30/2008
included within measure Housing and Economic Recovery
on other matters
Act included an increase to the
debt limit.
2008
H.R. 1424
P.L. 110-343
Change to Debt Limit
H.J. Res. 1424 (P.L. 110-343),
10/03/2008
included within measure the Emergency Economic
on other matters
Stabilization Act of 2008
included an increase to the
debt limit.
Congressional Research Service
11

Votes on Measures to Adjust the Statutory Debt Limit, 1978 to Present

Public Law
Year of
Number & Date
Enactment Bill
Number of Enactment
Type of Measure
Notes on the Measure
2009
H.R. 1
P.L. 111-5
Change to Debt Limit
H.R. 1 (P.L. 111-5) the
2/17/2009
included within measure American Recovery and
on other matters
Reinvestment Act of 2009
included an increase to the
debt limit.
2010
H.J. Res. 45
P.L. 111-139
Change to Debt Limit
During final consideration of
2/12/2010
included within measure H.J. Res. 45, the House took
on other matters
up a portion of the bill passed
by the Senate with an
amendment that included an
increase to the debt limit and
passed this portion of the
measure on February 4, 2010.
The bill also included
provisions related to
“Statutory PAYGO,” and
elimination of “duplicative and
wasteful spending.”
Source: The LIS available at http://www.congress.gov, Annual Congressional Quarterly Almanac volumes, CRS
Report RL31967, The Debt Limit: History and Recent Increases, by D. Andrew Austin and Mindy R. Levit, and out-
of-print CRS Report 97-297, Debt Limit Increases, 1978 to 1996: Fact Sheet and Uses of the Debt Limit for Other
Legislation.
Notes: Vote tally, enacted debt limit amounts, and other data are available in Table 1. Measures in Table 3 are
organized by year of enactment.
Selected CRS Reports and Resources
CRS Report RL31967, The Debt Limit: History and Recent Increases, by D. Andrew Austin and
Mindy R. Levit.
CRS Report RS21519, Legislative Procedures for Adjusting the Public Debt Limit: A Brief
Overview
, by Bill Heniff Jr.
Additional CRS products on the federal debt are available from the collections of products under
the Fiscal Challenges Current Legislative Issues at http://www.crs.gov/pages/SubIssue.aspx?
CLIID=2073&parentID=73 on the CRS website. A CRS Key Sources product providing concise
informational and authoritative resources on the federal debt and deficit is available at
http://crs.gov/analysis/keysources/DebtandDeficit/Pages/WKS0001_Overview.aspx.

Author Contact Information

Justin Murray

Information Research Specialist
jmurray@crs.loc.gov, 7-4092


Congressional Research Service
12