H.Res.949: Amending the Rules of the House of Representatives to require a two-thirds vote on a stand-alone bill to increase the statutory limit on the public debt.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Dec 3, 2009

Amends Rule XXVIII (Statutory Limit on Public Debt) of the Rules of the House of Representatives to repeal procedures for considering legislation that increases the statutory debt limit. Makes it out of order to consider such legislation if there is any other matter in it.

Prohibits legislation that increases the statutory limit on the public debt from being considered as passed or agreed to unless so determined by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Members.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Neugebauer, Randy [R-TX-19] · R–TX

Committees

Rules Committee

56 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.

Dec 3, 2009
Referred to the House Committee on Rules.
Dec 3, 2009
Introduced in House
Dec 3, 2009
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 · Dec 3, 2009 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

HRES 1071 · Amending the Rules of the House of Representatives to require a three-fifths vote on a stand-alone bill to increase the statutory limit on the public debt.

Source last updated: Dec 5, 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.Res.949 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.Res.949, 111th Congress: Amending the Rules of the House of Representatives to require a two-thirds vote on a stand-alone bill to increase the statutory limit on the public debt.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/house-resolution/949

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2009-12-03.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/111/bills/hres949/BILLS-111hres949ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-05T20:22:06Z. 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.Res.949 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.Res.949 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.Res.949, 111th Congress: Amending the Rules of the House of Representatives to require a two-thirds vote on a stand-alone bill to increase the statutory limit on the public debt.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/house-resolution/949

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2009-12-03.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/111/bills/hres949/BILLS-111hres949ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-05T20:22:06Z. 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.Res.949 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.Res.949 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.Res.949, 111th Congress: Amending the Rules of the House of Representatives to require a two-thirds vote on a stand-alone bill to increase the statutory limit on the public debt.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/house-resolution/949

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2009-12-03.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/111/bills/hres949/BILLS-111hres949ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-05T20:22:06Z. 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.Res.949 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.Res.949 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.Res.949, 111th Congress: Amending the Rules of the House of Representatives to require a two-thirds vote on a stand-alone bill to increase the statutory limit on the public debt.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/house-resolution/949

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2009-12-03.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/111/bills/hres949/BILLS-111hres949ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-05T20:22:06Z. 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.Res.949 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.