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

May 10, 2011 – June 12, 2023 R41814

Votes on Measures to Adjust the Statutory
Debt Limit, 1978 to Present
Updated June 12, 2023
Congressional Research Service
https://crsreports.congress.gov
R41814

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, 62 measures adjusting or suspending the statutory debt limit either as
stand-alone legislation or as part of legislation dealing with other matters have been enacted into
law.
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

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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, 62 measures adjusting or suspending the statutory debt limit either as
stand-alone legislation or as part of legislation dealing with other matters have been enacted into
law.1
Most recently, the President signed P.L. 118-5 on June 3, 2023. The legislation suspends the
federal debt limit through January 1, 2025. The legislation also establishes new discretionary
spending limits for FY2024 and FY2025, rescinds selected COVID-19 unobligated funding, and
changed eligibility for certain federal programs.2
This report provides tallies of votes on final passage for each enacted measure that adjusted or
suspended the statutory debt limit from 1978 to present. Note that because 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, this report only provides vote information on the final
passage of each measure.3
Debt Limit Votes: 1978 to Present
In addition to information on debt limit legislation and votes on final passage in the House and
Senate, other data elements identified in the tables below include bill numbers; roll call votes,
voice votes, or passage by unanimous consent; dates of final passage and vote tally information;
dates of enactment and public law numbers for the enacted laws; and brief background
information on whether the measures were considered as stand-alone measures (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 adjust or suspend the federal debt limit
from 1978 to 2023, including data on the specific 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 Congress.gov
bill summary and status information for each measure. Roll call votes on final enactment can be
extracted through the actions tab for each measure within Congress.gov back to 1993.4 Table 1
also 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 See, also, CRS Report R43389, The Debt Limit Since 2011, by D. Andrew Austin and CRS Report RL31967, The
Debt Limit: History and Recent Increases, by D. Andrew Austin.
2 See CRS Insight IN12168, Discretionary Spending Caps in the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, by Grant A.
Driessen and Megan S. Lynch.
3 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.
4 Complete House and Senate roll call vote information is available in Congress.gov back to1993. 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 Congress.gov bill summary
and status display by clicking on the actions tab and online links provided to the House and Senate roll call
information.
Congressional Research Service

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Table 2 identifies stand-alone measures from the period. Table 3 identifies bills considered as
other than stand-alone measures5 and provides brief background information on the nature of
each measure and by what means the measures were considered.
Table 1. Roll Call Votes on Enacted Measures to Adjust the Federal Debt Limit
(1978 to 2021)
Final House & Senate Vote
Tally & Date of Votes
Public Law
Debt Limit
Temporary
Number &
Amount
Provisions
Date of
($ in
Expiration
Year
Bill Number
House
Senate
Enactment
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. 95-33
$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)
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)

5 Table 3 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 appropriations measures or part of continuing resolutions) or pursuant to House rules or budget resolution
and budget reconciliation activities.
Congressional Research Service

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Final House & Senate Vote
Tally & Date of Votes
Public Law
Debt Limit
Temporary
Number &
Amount
Provisions
Date of
($ in
Expiration
Year
Bill Number
House
Senate
Enactment
billions)
Date
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
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
269-99
Voice Vote
P.L. 101-140
$3,122.7
None
11/07/1989
11/07/1989
11/08/1989
1990
H.R. 5350
247-172
Voice Vote
P.L. 101-350
$3,195
10/02/1990
8/03/1990
8/03/1990
8/09/1990
H.R. 5755
Voice Vote
Unanimous
P.L. 101-405
same
10/06/1990
9/30/1990
Consent
10/02/1990
09/30/1990
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Final House & Senate Vote
Tally & Date of Votes
Public Law
Debt Limit
Temporary
Number &
Amount
Provisions
Date of
($ in
Expiration
Year
Bill Number
House
Senate
Enactment
billions)
Date
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
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
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
$9,815
None
(See notes
9/27/2007
9/29/2007
column in
Table 2)
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Final House & Senate Vote
Tally & Date of Votes
Public Law
Debt Limit
Temporary
Number &
Amount
Provisions
Date of
($ in
Expiration
Year
Bill Number
House
Senate
Enactment
billions)
Date
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
2011
S. 365
269-161
74-26
P.L. 112-25
$16,394
None
8/01/2011
8/02/2011
8/02/2011a
2013
H.R. 325
285-144
64-34
P.L. 113-3
(See notes
5/18/2013
01/23/2013
1/31/2013
02/4/2013
column in
Table 3)
2013
H.R. 2775
285-144
81-18
P.L. 113-46
(See notes
2/07/2014
10/16/2013
10/16/2013
10/17/2013
column in
Table 3)
2014
S. 540
221-201
55-43
P.L. 113-83
(See notes
3/15/2015
2/11/2014
2/12/2014
2/15/2014
column in
Table 2)
2015
H.R. 1314
266-167
64-35
P.L. 114-74
(See notes
3/15/2017
10/29/2015
10/30/2015
11/02/2015
column in
Table 3)
2017
H.R. 601
316-90
80-17
P.L. 115-56
(See notes
12/08/2017
9/08/2017
9/07/2017
9/08/2017
column in
Table 3)
2018
H.R. 1892
240-186
71-28
P.L. 115-123
(See notes
3/01/2019
2/09/2018
2/09/2018
2/09/2018
column in
Table 3)
2019
H.R. 3877
284-149
67-28
P.L. 116-37
(See notes
8/01/2021
7/25/2019
8/01/2019
8/02/2019
column in
Table 3)
2021
S. 1301
219-212
50-48
P.L. 117-50
$28,881
None
9/29/2021
10/07/2021
10/14/2021
(See also
notes column
in Table 2)
2021
S.J.Res. 33
221-209
50-49
P.L. 117-73
$31.381
None
12/15/2021
12/14/2021
12/16/2021
(See also
notes column
in Table 2)
2023
H.R. 3746
314-117
63-36
P.L. 118-5
(See notes
01/01/2025
05/31/2023
6/01/2023
6/03/2023
column in
Table 3)
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Sources: Congress.gov, 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 CRS Report 97-297,
Debt Limit Increases, 1978 to 1996: Fact Sheet and Uses of the Debt Limit for Other Legislation (report is out of print;
available to congressional clients from the author upon request). 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.
a. P.L. 112-25, the Budget Control Act (BCA), included provisions allowing the debt limit to rise in three
stages—up to $2.4 tril ion—fol owing certification by the President that the debt balance was within $100
bil ion of the current limit. The debt limit as of January 28, 2012, was $16.4 tril ion. This $16.4 tril ion figure
included incremental increases of $400 bil ion (August 2, 2011), $500 bil ion (September 22, 2011), and $1.2
tril ion (January 28, 2012). More information on stipulations for debt-limit increases included within P.L.
112-25 appears in CRS Report RL31967, The Debt Limit: History and Recent Increases, by D. Andrew Austin.
Table 2. Stand-Alone Debt Limit Measures
(1978-2021)
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, its 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
12/19/1980
H.Con.Res. 307, the FY1981 Budget
Resolution, which 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, 1981.
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.
Congressional Research Service

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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
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
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. 5953
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 rol call 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
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Year of
Public Law Number &
Descriptive Notes on
Enactment
Bill Number
Date of Enactment
the Measure
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
2014
S. 540
P.L. 113-83
P.L. 113-83, the Temporary Debt Limit
2/15/2014
Extension Act, suspended the federal debt
limit through March 15, 2015.
2021
H.R. 1301
P.L. 117-50
P.L. 117-50 increased the federal debt limit
10/14/2021
by $480 bil ion and was enacted several
weeks after a prior suspension of the federal
debt (enacted in P.L. 116-37) expired on July
31, 2021).
2021
S.J.Res. 33
P.L. 117-73
P.L. 117-73 increased the federal debt limit
12/16/2021
by $2.5 tril ion.
Sources: Congress.gov; Annual Congressional Quarterly Almanac volumes; CRS Report RL31967, The Debt Limit:
History and Recent Increases, by D. Andrew Austin; and CRS Report 97-297, Debt Limit Increases, 1978 to 1996:
Fact Sheet and Uses of the Debt Limit for Other Legislation (report is out of print; available to congressional clients
from the author upon request).
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.
Table 3. Other Than Stand-Alone Debt Limit Measures
(1979-2019)
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 in
4/02/1979
included as provision savings bonds yields and
within measure on
required 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
Rol 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
in the amount of long-term
measure on other
bonds that could be outstanding
matters.
and established House Rule 49
making the increase in the debt
limit part of the budget process
(in the House).
Congressional Research Service

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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
1980
H.R. 7428
P.L. 96-264
Change to debt limit
P.L. 96-264 included a repeal of
6/06/1980
included within
the presidentially imposed oil
measure on other
import fee under Section 232(b)
matters.
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
whole debt limit permanent and
measure on other
increasing the amount of long-
matters.
term bonds that could be issued.
1984
H.R. 5692
P.L. 98-302
Change to debt limit
P.L. 98-302 included an increase
5/25/1984
included within
in the amount of long-term
measure on other
bonds that could be issued and
matters.
provided some miscellaneous
administrative authority to the
Secretary of the Treasury.
1985
H.R. 3721
P.L. 99-155
Change to debt limit
P.L. 99-155 included a
11/14/1985
included within
requirement to restore Social
measure on other
Security Trust Funds and to
matters.
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. 99-
12/12/1985
included as part of
177, was also a vehicle for the
Balanced Budget and
Balanced Budget and Emergency
Deficit Reduction
Deficit Reduction Act of 1985.
measure.
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 Budget
10/21/1986
included in Budget
Reconciliation Act of 1986,
Reconciliation
included a debt limit increase to
measure.
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 the
9/29/1987
included as part of a
legislative vehicle for the
Balanced Budget and
Balanced Budget and Emergency
Deficit Reduction
Deficit Control and
measure.
Reaffirmation Act of 1987.
1989
H.R. 3024
P.L. 101-72
Change to debt limit
P.L. 101-72 included a change in
8/07/1989
within measure on
the method of accounting for
other matters.
federal debt instruments.
Congressional Research Service

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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
H.J.Res. 280
P.L. 101-140
Change in debt limit
Pursuant to the provisions of
11/08/1989
included within
H.Con.Res. 106, the FY1990
measure on other
Budget Resolution, H.J.Res. 280,
matters.
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.
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
appropriations measure that
measure on other
included a debt limit extension.
matters.
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
362-3. 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
Title XI of the Omnibus Budget
measure.
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
Title XIII of the Omnibus Budget
measure.
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
P.L. 104-103 temporarily
2/08/1996
parameters and
exempted from limit obligations
temporary
in an amount equal to the
exemptions of
monthly insurance benefits
certain Social
payable under Title II of the
Security-related
Social Security Act in March
funds from the debt
1996. The exemption was set to
limit.
expire in the event of an
increase in the debt limit or by
March 15, 1996.
H.R. 3021
P.L. 104-115
Addressed
P.L. 104-115 temporarily
3/12/1996
parameters and
exempted from limit obligations
temporary
in an amount equal to the
exemptions of
monthly insurance benefits
certain Social
payable under Title II of the
Security-related
Social Security Act in March
funds from the debt
1996 and certain obligations
limit.
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. 105-33, the Balanced Budget
8/05/1997
limit included in
Act of 1997, included a debt
Balanced Budget
limit increase in Title V, Subtitle
measure.
G.
2008
H.R. 3221
P.L. 110-289
Change to debt limit
H.R. 3221 (P.L. 110-289), the
7/30/2008
included within
Housing and Economic Recovery
measure on other
Act, included an increase to the
matters.
debt limit.
2008
H.R. 1424
P.L. 110-343
Change to debt limit
H.R. 1424 (P.L. 110-343), the
10/03/2008
included within
Emergency Economic
measure on other
Stabilization Act of 2008,
matters.
included an increase to the debt
limit.
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
American Recovery and
measure on other
Reinvestment Act of 2009,
matters.
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
2010
H.J.Res. 45
P.L. 111-139
Change to debt limit
During final consideration of H.J.
2/12/2010
included within
Res. 45, the House took up a
measure on other
portion of the bil passed by the
matters.
Senate with an amendment that
included an increase to the debt
limit and passed this portion of
the measure on February 4,
2010. The bil also included
provisions related to “Statutory
PAYGO,” and elimination of
“duplicative and wasteful
spending.”
2011
S. 365
P.L. 112-25
Change to debt limit
Final legislation was in the form
8/02/2011
included within
of a House amendment in the
measure addressing
nature of a substitute to a
deficit reduction.
previously unrelated Senate bil .
The Budget Control Act of 2011
as enacted includes provisions
aimed at deficit reduction and an
increase of up to $2.4 tril ion
that would occur in several
stages.
2013
H.R. 325
P.L. 113-3
Suspended the
P.L. 113-3 temporarily
02/04/2013
federal debt limit
suspended the statutory federal
temporarily. Other
debt limit through May 18, 2013,
matters within the
and allowed the federal
measure address the
government to continue to
annual budget
borrow beyond the $16,394
resolution.
bil ion limit set under provisions
within P.L. 112-25, the Budget
Control Act of 2011. Additional
provisions required House and
Senate payrol administrators to
hold all Member salary
compensation if by April 15,
2013, that chamber had not
agreed to a concurrent budget
resolution for FY2014.
The Treasury Department reset
the debt limit at $16,699 bil ion
once the debt limit suspension
period lapsed.
H.R. 2775
P.L. 113-46
Suspended the
Division B of P.L. 113-46
10/17/2013
federal debt limit
temporarily suspended the
temporarily.
federal debt limit through
Provisions included
February 7, 2014. On October
in Division B of the
17, 2013, as part of P.L. 113-46,
FY2014 Continuing
a measure providing continuing
Resolution Act.
appropriations for FY2014, the
debt limit was suspended again
until February 7, 2014.
Congressional Research Service

12

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
2015
H.R. 1314
P.L. 114-74
Suspension of the
P.L. 114-74 temporarily
11/02/2015
debt limit included
suspended the debt limit
within measure
through March 15, 2017. The
addressing deficit
measure also amended certain
reduction.
budget enforcement provisions
of the Budget Control Act of
2011 (P.L. 112-25). On March
16, 2017, the Treasury
Department reset the debt limit
at $19,809 bil ion.
2017
H.R. 601
P.L. 115-56
Suspension of the
Division C of P.L. 115-56
9/08/2017
debt limit included in temporarily suspended the debt
an FY2018
limit through December 8, 2017.
continuing
On September 8, 2017, the
appropriations
Treasury Department reset the
resolution and an
debt limit at $20,456 bil ion.
FY2017 disaster
relief supplemental
appropriations
measure.
2018
H.R. 1892
P.L. 115-123
Suspension of the
Title III, §30301, included a
2/09/2018
debt limit included
temporary suspension of the
along with FY2018
debt limit through March 1,
continuing
2019. On March 1, 2019, the
appropriations
Treasury Department reset the
resolutions in the
debt limit at $21,988 bil ion.
Bipartisan Budget
Act of 2018. The
measure also
included, among
other matters,
health care and tax
benefit provisions,
and supplemental
disaster assistance
funding.
2019
H.R. 3877
P.L. 116-37
Suspension of the
Section 301 of the Bipartisan
8/02/2019
debt limit included in Budget Act of 2019 suspends the
P.L. 116-37, the
federal debt limit through
Bipartisan Budget
August 1, 2021.
Act of 2019 that
raised discretionary
budget caps for
FY2020 and FY2021
under P.L. 112-25,
the Budget Control
Act of 2011.
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link to page 5 link to page 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
2023
H.R. 3746
6/03/2023
Suspension of the
Section 401 of the Fiscal
debt limit included in Responsibility Act of 2023
Section 401 of the
suspends the federal debt limit
Fiscal Responsibility
through January 1, 2025.
Act. This act also
establishes
discretionary
spending limits for
FY2024 and FY2025
that are enforced
with sequestration.
The act rescinds
selected COVID-19
unobligated funding,
and changes
eligibility for certain
federal programs. It
also includes a
provision that would
require the
discretionary
spending limits to be
permanently revised
in the event that ful
year appropriations
are not enacted by
April 30.
Sources: Congress.gov; Annual Congressional Quarterly Almanac volumes; CRS Report RL31967, The Debt Limit:
History and Recent Increases, by D. Andrew Austin; and CRS Report 97-297, Debt Limit Increases, 1978 to 1996:
Fact Sheet and Uses of the Debt Limit for Other Legislation (report is out of print; available to congressional clients
from the author upon request).
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 R44874, The Budget Control Act: Frequently Asked Questions, by Grant A. Driessen
and Megan S. Lynch.
CRS Report RL31967, The Debt Limit: History and Recent Increases, by D. Andrew Austin.
CRS Insight IN11702, The Debt Limit in 2021, by D. Andrew Austin.
CRS Report R43389, The Debt Limit Since 2011, by D. Andrew Austin.
CRS Insight IN11829, Debt Limit Suspensions, by D. Andrew Austin.
CRS Insight IN12168, Discretionary Spending Caps in the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, by
Grant A. Driessen and Megan S. Lynch.
CRS Report RS21519, Legislative Procedures for Adjusting the Public Debt Limit: A Brief
Overview, by Bill Heniff Jr.

Congressional Research Service

14

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

Author Information

Justin Murray

Senior Research Librarian

Disclaimer
This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan
shared staff to congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and
under the direction of Congress. Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other
than public understanding of information that has been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in
connection with CRS’s institutional role. CRS Reports, as a work of the United States Government, are not
subject to copyright protection in the United States. Any CRS Report may be reproduced and distributed in
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copy or otherwise use copyrighted material.

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