Expressing the sense of Congress that Members of Congress, the President, and the Vice President should donate their salaries to the Treasury for reducing the national debt if members of the Armed Forces do not receive pay or allowances because of a shutdown of the Federal Government or because the Government is unable to fund such pay and allowances because the public debt limit has been reached.

Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, U.S. Postal Service, and Labor Policy.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · May 26, 2011

Expresses the sense of Congress that if, during any period of a fiscal year interim or full-year appropriations for the personnel accounts of the Armed Forces have not been enacted, or the federal government is unable to make payments from such accounts because the public debt limit has been reached, Members of Congress, the President, and the Vice President should donate any salary received for that period to the Treasury to reduce the national debt.

Read the summary on Congress.gov

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Flores, Bill [R-TX-17] · R–TX

Committees

Oversight and Government Reform Committee
Committee on House Administration

2 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Jun 20, 2011
Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, U.S. Postal Service, and Labor Policy.
May 26, 2011
Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, 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.
May 26, 2011
Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, 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.
May 26, 2011
Introduced in House
May 26, 2011
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · May 26, 2011 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Feb 4, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

Explore the bill from different angles

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.Con.Res.56 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.Con.Res.56, 112th Congress: Expressing the sense of Congress that Members of Congress, the President, and the Vice President should donate their salaries to the Treasury for reducing the national debt if members of the Armed Forces do not receive pay or allowances because of a shutdown of the Federal Government or because the Government is unable to fund such pay and allowances because the public debt limit has been reached.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-concurrent-resolution/56

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2011-05-26.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/hconres56/BILLS-112hconres56ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-02-04T17:02:39Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.Con.Res.56 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.Con.Res.56 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.Con.Res.56, 112th Congress: Expressing the sense of Congress that Members of Congress, the President, and the Vice President should donate their salaries to the Treasury for reducing the national debt if members of the Armed Forces do not receive pay or allowances because of a shutdown of the Federal Government or because the Government is unable to fund such pay and allowances because the public debt limit has been reached.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-concurrent-resolution/56

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2011-05-26.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/hconres56/BILLS-112hconres56ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-02-04T17:02:39Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.Con.Res.56 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.Con.Res.56 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.Con.Res.56, 112th Congress: Expressing the sense of Congress that Members of Congress, the President, and the Vice President should donate their salaries to the Treasury for reducing the national debt if members of the Armed Forces do not receive pay or allowances because of a shutdown of the Federal Government or because the Government is unable to fund such pay and allowances because the public debt limit has been reached.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-concurrent-resolution/56

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2011-05-26.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/hconres56/BILLS-112hconres56ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-02-04T17:02:39Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.Con.Res.56 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.Con.Res.56 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.Con.Res.56, 112th Congress: Expressing the sense of Congress that Members of Congress, the President, and the Vice President should donate their salaries to the Treasury for reducing the national debt if members of the Armed Forces do not receive pay or allowances because of a shutdown of the Federal Government or because the Government is unable to fund such pay and allowances because the public debt limit has been reached.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-concurrent-resolution/56

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2011-05-26.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/hconres56/BILLS-112hconres56ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-02-04T17:02:39Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.Con.Res.56 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.