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H.R.187 / 118th Congress

Default Prevention Act

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 279.

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Jan 9, 2023

Default Prevention Act

This bill requires the Department of the Treasury to continue borrowing to pay the principal and interest on obligations held by the public or the Social Security trust funds if the federal debt limit is reached.

The bill also (1) exempts any obligations issued under this bill from the debt limit if the obligations would otherwise cause the limit to be exceeded, and (2) prohibits the obligations from being used to compensate Members of Congress.

Read the summary on Congress.gov
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Who introduced it

Rep. McClintock, Tom [R-CA-5] · R–CA

Committees

  • Ways and Means Committee
4 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

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  1. Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 279.

  2. Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 118-340.

  3. Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 118-340.

  4. Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 21 - 17.

  5. Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

  6. Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

  7. Introduced in House

  8. Introduced in House

Bill text & related measures

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

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: May 27, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

Explore the bill from different angles

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.187 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.

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Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.187 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.

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Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.187 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.

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Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.187 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.

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