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<bill bill-stage="Introduced-in-Senate" dms-id="A1" public-private="public" slc-id="S1-HEN21D29-H8J-Y8-KCH"><metadata xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">
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<dc:title>117 S2819 IS: Protect Our Citizens from Reckless Extortion of our Debt and Irresponsible Tactics Act of 2021</dc:title>
<dc:publisher>U.S. Senate</dc:publisher>
<dc:date>2021-09-23</dc:date>
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<dc:language>EN</dc:language>
<dc:rights>Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.</dc:rights>
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<distribution-code display="yes">II</distribution-code><congress>117th CONGRESS</congress><session>1st Session</session><legis-num>S. 2819</legis-num><current-chamber>IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES</current-chamber><action><action-date date="20210923">September 23, 2021</action-date><action-desc><sponsor name-id="S322">Mr. Merkley</sponsor> (for himself and <cosponsor name-id="S362">Mr. Kaine</cosponsor>) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the <committee-name committee-id="SSFI00">Committee on Finance</committee-name></action-desc></action><legis-type>A BILL</legis-type><official-title>To provide a process for ensuring the United States does not default on its obligations.</official-title></form><legis-body display-enacting-clause="yes-display-enacting-clause"><section section-type="section-one" id="S1"><enum>1.</enum><header>Short title</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">This Act may be cited as the <quote><short-title>Protect Our Citizens from Reckless Extortion of our Debt and Irresponsible Tactics Act of 2021</short-title></quote> or the <quote><short-title>Protect Our CREDIT Act of 2021</short-title></quote>.</text></section><section id="idC0E8A1C0B1D64DD994B2CE0EAEDAC4EB"><enum>2.</enum><header>Additional Presidential modification of the debt ceiling</header><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="P58FFAB6EB05242688168116E91B6D8CE"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subchapter I of chapter 31 of subtitle III of title 31, United States Code, is amended—</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="P2CDC573BE5E240B5A3CB275B11E82516"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in section 3101(b), by inserting <quote>or 3101B</quote> after <quote>section 3101A</quote>; and</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="P458E39A378E6475485FAE37CBF4558D1"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting after section 3101A the following:</text><quoted-block style="USC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1B04FE84764F4C2D8F366847FE0B81D3"><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section" id="P4F2AEF7A2C894770955C6AB44B2AE848"><enum>3101B.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Additional Presidential modification of the debt ceiling</header><subsection id="PE596CC7B1AE540A79F53627CC5D9A3EB"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Definition</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In this section, the term <term>joint resolution</term> means only a joint resolution—</text><paragraph id="P829665303EBF41C1B2DB321E95ECCA82"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">that is introduced during the period—</text><subparagraph id="id3A4FEE6407AE4FCEBE7096E8637465C8"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">beginning on the date a certification described in paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (b) is received by Congress; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idF0195B5AF99E4CCF8F6B04E8F1670733"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">ending on the date that is 3 legislative days (excluding any day on which it is not in order to introduce resolutions) after the date described in subparagraph (A);</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="P7D89802F081F42258640BB880FE743AE"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">which does not have a preamble;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="P7EC2DA7539FA414793275422FB0D0E56"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the title of which is only as follows: <quote>Joint resolution relating to the disapproval of the President’s exercise of authority to increase the debt limit, as submitted under section 3101B of title 31, United States Code, on ______</quote> (with the blank containing the date of such submission); and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="P4A348E8FE3D844478F32321C7CA49A69"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the matter after the resolving clause of which is only as follows: <quote>That Congress disapproves of the President’s exercise of authority to increase the debt limit, as exercised pursuant to the certification submitted under section 3101B(b) of title 31, United States Code, on ______.</quote> (with the blank containing the date of such submission).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="PE7D591E0E99A4C5780CAD82CAEEAA104"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Submissions to Congress</header><paragraph id="P4AF1809E0A5441C88452378C9615214C"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Annual submission</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Before the beginning of each fiscal year, the President shall submit to Congress a written certification specifying the amount of obligations that are subject to limit under section 3101(b), in addition to the amount of such obligations authorized to be outstanding on the date of the certification, that the President determines it shall be necessary to issue during the next fiscal year to meet existing commitments.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id1B2CE0029A2847E48ED5C4BA4909CE4F"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Submission during fiscal year</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If the President determines during a fiscal year that the debt subject to limit under section 3101(b) is within $250,000,000,000 of such limit and that further borrowing is necessary to meet existing commitments, the President shall submit to Congress a written certification—</text><subparagraph id="idBA42858B56DC410F9D5E3AB13CFF1BBA"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">specifying the amount of obligations that are subject to limit under section 3101(b), in addition to the amount of such obligations authorized to be outstanding on the date of the certification, that the President determines it shall be necessary to issue during the fiscal year to meet existing commitments; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0B8DC7BF22F34F3284163D9A89C1EB2A"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">containing the reason for any discrepancy from the certification submitted under paragraph (1) for the fiscal year.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idC460B426B7E44CDFA14C6278149A43CC"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Effect of failure to enact disapproval</header><text>If a joint resolution is not enacted with respect to a certification under paragraph (1) or (2) during the 15-legislative-day period beginning on the date on which Congress receives the certification, the limit under section 3101(b) is increased by the amount specified in the certification.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="PD96268B728924BF7B8A6EDEB32C669CE"><enum>(4)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Effect of enactment of disapproval</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If a joint resolution is enacted with respect to a certification under paragraph (1) or (2) during the 15-legislative-day period beginning on the date on which Congress receives the certification, the limit under section 3101(b)—</text><subparagraph id="id89B5BDCA30F94108B32A936002DE658C"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">shall not be increased by the amount specified in the certification; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id25849F81AC7E45B8A083F1141EE4BDEC"><enum>(B)</enum><text>shall be increased in accordance with subsection (c)(2).</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id1e8b84b85ffe41f7a25c72d859f5011e"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Suspension for mid-Year certification</header><paragraph id="idc06de13f490344c4a6f6de67ae0f9938"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Section 3101(b) shall not apply for the period—</text><subparagraph id="id9233E71B0B8A431CA278709C2ADB073C"><enum>(A)</enum><text>beginning on the date on which the President submits to Congress a certification under subsection (b)(2); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idD334C5528550471DA6364298D52C98F4"><enum>(B)</enum><text>ending on the earlier of—</text><clause id="id1FBFBF094D804175BBB56AB60349064E"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the date that is 15 legislative days after Congress receives the certification; or</text></clause><clause id="id3EBDCFF69D7A4F318ED39E13553B4FCB"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the date of enactment of a joint resolution with respect to the certification.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id8101cfeb49b1441db3b33358b28a211c"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Special rule relating to obligations issued during suspension period</header><subparagraph id="id6DFEC0C3E3CB4C3BA89A890787EFD730"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>If a joint resolution is enacted with respect to a certification under subsection (b)(2), effective on the day after such date of enactment, the limitation in section 3101(b) is increased to the extent that—</text><clause id="idb8625f7cac7144a9b176411244dbbdf7"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the face amount of obligations issued under this chapter and the face amount of obligations whose principal and interest are guaranteed by the United States Government (except guaranteed obligations held by the Secretary of the Treasury) outstanding on the calendar day after such date of enactment, exceeds</text></clause><clause id="id72420ca061704fafba11a0e24d2fdfd8"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the face amount of such obligations outstanding on the date on which the President submits the certification.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9D5CEE3A9EE94D7696A6B333BDE5AE84"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Limitation</header><text>An obligation shall not be taken into account under subparagraph (A) unless the issuance of such obligation was necessary to fund a commitment incurred by the Federal Government that required payment during the 15-legislative-day period described in paragraph (1)(B)(i).</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="P80D88561B8C1493D8FCB48CEB19159E2"><enum>(d)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Expedited consideration in House of Representatives</header><paragraph id="PA6475B022EB74FF39E0EB2C199592413"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Reporting and discharge</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any committee of the House of Representatives to which a joint resolution is referred shall report it to the House of Representatives without amendment not later than 5 calendar days after the date of introduction of the joint resolution. If a committee fails to report the joint resolution within that period, the committee shall be discharged from further consideration of the joint resolution and the joint resolution shall be referred to the appropriate calendar.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="P1F8F67AA127E425B9BFCA41615321E64"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Proceeding to consideration</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">After each committee authorized to consider a joint resolution reports it to the House of Representatives or has been discharged from its consideration, it shall be in order, not later than the sixth day after introduction of the joint resolution, to move to proceed to consider the joint resolution in the House of Representatives. All points of order against the motion are waived. Such a motion shall not be in order after the House of Representatives has disposed of a motion to proceed on a joint resolution addressing a particular submission. The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the motion to its adoption without intervening motion. The motion shall not be debatable. A motion to reconsider the vote by which the motion is disposed of shall not be in order.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="P0D3AB1730B4A4AACAF07C7161C6D8694"><enum>(3)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Consideration</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The joint resolution shall be considered as read. All points of order against the joint resolution and against its consideration are waived. The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the joint resolution to its passage without intervening motion except 2 hours of debate equally divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent. An amendment to the joint resolution or a motion to reconsider the vote on passage of the joint resolution shall not be in order.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="PE80C25E3F80F4089A7D460840A6A3C21"><enum>(e)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Expedited procedure in Senate</header><paragraph id="P38C469FE582A4A43972476BCCDED2E2B"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Placement on calendar</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Upon introduction in the Senate, a joint resolution shall be immediately placed on the calendar.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="P28AE8E28713E491F947FE6347DE614EB"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Floor consideration</header><subparagraph id="PF00F0600AEB646069E9E10D1A2C8183F"><enum>(A)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Notwithstanding rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, it is in order at any time during the period beginning on the day after the date on which Congress receives a certification under paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (b) and ending on the sixth day after the date of introduction of a joint resolution (even though a previous motion to the same effect has been disagreed to) to move to proceed to the consideration of the joint resolution, and all points of order against the joint resolution (and against consideration of the joint resolution) are waived. The motion to proceed is not debatable. The motion is not subject to a motion to postpone. A motion to reconsider the vote by which the motion is agreed to or disagreed to shall not be in order. If a motion to proceed to the consideration of the resolution is agreed to, the joint resolution shall remain the unfinished business until disposed of.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="PF902B52068DB4B86AEED3BABA3EC7508"><enum>(B)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Consideration</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Consideration of the joint resolution, and on all debatable motions and appeals in connection therewith, shall be limited to not more than 10 hours, which shall be divided equally between the majority and minority leaders or their designees. A motion further to limit debate is in order and not debatable. An amendment to, or a motion to postpone, or a motion to proceed to the consideration of other business, or a motion to recommit the joint resolution is not in order.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="P7A28C2DE984B45FF9A51C6AB14D8690B"><enum>(C)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Vote on passage</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If the Senate has voted to proceed to a joint resolution, the vote on passage of the joint resolution shall occur immediately following the conclusion of consideration of the joint resolution, and a single quorum call at the conclusion of the debate if requested in accordance with the rules of the Senate.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="P6467D843BE354F56926DFDEA8B927F06"><enum>(D)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Rulings of the chair on procedure</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Appeals from the decisions of the Chair relating to the application of the rules of the Senate, as the case may be, to the procedure relating to a joint resolution shall be decided without debate.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="P37529E2D76EB42F68AF7073BF7319613"><enum>(f)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Coordination with action by other house</header><paragraph id="P3AB743EE0FD549FD9EE71EE77DBB28A4"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If, before passing the joint resolution, one House receives from the other a joint resolution—</text><subparagraph id="P7B19B2AEAC2049799364AD27D6B5C96B"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the joint resolution of the other House shall not be referred to a committee; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="PDF24FAEF531A42D5A14B382CE717B320"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the procedure in the receiving House shall be the same as if no joint resolution had been received from the other House, except that the vote on final passage shall be on the joint resolution of the other House.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="P5295BBF68ABF4045AA940584D333FDB0"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Treatment of joint resolution of other house</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If the Senate fails to introduce or consider a joint resolution under this section, the joint resolution of the House shall be entitled to expedited floor procedures under this section.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="P88F563A73F2D412C980956CDEA4DDC27"><enum>(3)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Treatment of companion measures</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If, following passage of the joint resolution in the Senate, the Senate receives the companion measure from the House of Representatives, the companion measure shall not be debatable.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="PB38E61B4598D4E48BBF73B9FF8DC7C9A"><enum>(4)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Consideration after passage</header><subparagraph id="P248FFA0610C34C35B4888343286BBB00"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If Congress passes a joint resolution, the period beginning on the date the President is presented with the joint resolution and ending on the date the President signs, allows to become law without his signature, or vetoes and returns the joint resolution (but excluding days when either House is not in session) shall be disregarded in computing the legislative day period described in paragraphs (3) and (4) of subsection (b) and subsection (c)(1).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="P3354027D659C40F2A0E22B9E37F3ACBE"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Debate</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Debate on a veto message in the Senate under this section shall be 1 hour equally divided between the majority and minority leaders or their designees.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="PE673100F4ECB4D64A3A72A77DE03451C"><enum>(5)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Veto override</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If within the legislative day period described in paragraphs (3) and (4) of subsection (b) and subsection (c)(1), Congress overrides a veto of a joint resolution, except as provided in subsection (c)(2), the limit on debt provided in section 3101(b) shall not be raised under this section.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id89CD9E99D8A84B73834A9DEA2A274B57"><enum>(g)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Rules of House of Representatives and Senate</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subsections (a), (d), (e), and (f) (except for paragraphs (4)(A) and (5) of such subsection) are enacted by Congress—</text><paragraph id="P7D313395143C415A9DEE409CDB77DB6D"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">as an exercise of the rulemaking power of the Senate and House of Representatives, respectively, and as such it is deemed a part of the rules of each House, respectively, but applicable only with respect to the procedure to be followed in that House in the case of a joint resolution, and it supersedes other rules only to the extent that it is inconsistent with such rules; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="PDE325E274E8D43F7ADDEFEE814DB0D20"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">with full recognition of the constitutional right of either House to change the rules (so far as relating to the procedure of that House) at any time, in the same manner, and to the same extent as in the case of any other rule of that House.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="P76237455FE2E403A95B5D65993135109"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Conforming amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The table of sections for <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/31/31">chapter 31</external-xref> of title 31, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/31/3101A">section 3101A</external-xref> the following:</text><quoted-block style="USC" id="ida54fa765-9097-4815-b6ec-f2da244327a8"><toc><toc-entry idref="P4F2AEF7A2C894770955C6AB44B2AE848" level="section">3101B. Additional Presidential modification of the debt ceiling.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection></section></legis-body></bill> 

