[Historical Tables]
[Section 7 - Federal Debt]
[Table 7.3 - Statutory Limits on Federal Debt: 1940-Current]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office, www.gpo.gov]



[[Page 130]]


 
                            Table 7.3--STATUTORY LIMITS ON FEDERAL DEBT: 1940-CURRENT
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                Dollar Amount of
       Date and Act                               History of Legislation                             Limit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       June 25, 1940
54 Stat. 526..............  Amended sec. 21, adding new authority for issuance of $4 billion      49,000,000,000
                             National Defense Series obligations outstanding.

     February 19, 1941
55 Stat. 7................  Amended sec. 21, eliminating authority for $4 billion of National     65,000,000,000
                             Defense Series obligations and increasing limitation to.

      March 28, 1942
56 Stat. 189..............  Amended sec. 21, increasing limitation to........................    125,000,000,000

      April 11, 1943
57 Stat. 63...............  Amended sec. 21, increasing limitation to........................    210,000,000,000

       June 9, 1944
58 Stat. 272..............  Amended sec. 21, increasing limitation to........................    260,000,000,000

       April 3, 1945
59 Stat. 47...............  Amended sec. 21, including obligations guaranteed as to principal
                             and interest by the United States and increasing
                            limitation to....................................................    300,000,000,000

       June 26, 1946
60 Stat. 316..............  Amended sec. 21, defining face amount of savings bonds to be         275,000,000,000
                             current redemption value and decreasing limitation to.

      August 28, 1954
68 Stat. 895..............  Increasing sec. 21 limitation by $6 billion during period            281,000,000,000
                             beginning August 28, 1954, and ending June 30, 1955.

       June 30, 1955
69 Stat. 241..............  Amended act of August 28,1954, extending increase in limitation      281,000,000,000
                             until June 30, 1956.

       July 9, 1956
70 Stat. 519..............  Increased sec. 21 limitation by $3 billion during period             278,000,000,000
                             beginning July 1, 1956, and ending June 30, 1957.
                            Temporary increase terminated July 1, 1957, and limitation           275,000,000,000
                             reverted to.

     February 26, 1958
72 Stat. 27...............  Increased sec. 21 limitation by $5 billion during period             280,000,000,000
                             beginning February 26, 1958, and ending June 30, 1959.

     September 2, 1958
72 Stat. 1758.............  Amended sec. 21, increasing limitation to $283 billion, which        288,000,000,000
                             with temporary increase of February 26, 1958 made limitation.

       June 30, 1959
73 Stat. 156..............  Amended sec. 21, increasing limitation to $285 billion and
                             increased sec. 21 limitation by $10 billion during period
                            beginning July 1, 1959, and ending June 30, 1960.................    295,000,000,000

       June 30, 1960
74 Stat. 290..............  Increased sec. 21 limitation by $8 billion during period             293,000,000,000
                             beginning July 1, 1960, and ending June 30, 1961.

       June 30, 1961
75 Stat. 148..............  Increased sec. 21 limitation by $13 billion during period            298,000,000,000
                             beginning July 1, 1961, and ending June 30, 1962.

      March 13, 1962
76 Stat. 23...............  Increased sec. 21 limitation by $2 billion (in addition to
                             temporary increase of $13 billion in act of June 30, 1961)
                            during period beginning March 13, 1962, and ending June 30, 1962.    300,000,000,000

       July 1, 1962
76 Stat. 124..............  Increased sec. 21 limitation during the periods:
                            (1) beginning July 1, 1962, and ending March 31, 1963, to........    308,000,000,000
                            (2) beginning April 1, 1963, and ending June 24, 1963, to........    305,000,000,000
                            (3) beginning June 25, 1963, and ending June 30, 1963, to........    300,000,000,000

       May 29, 1963
77 Stat. 90...............  Increased sec. 21 limitation during the periods:
                            (1) beginning May 29, 1963, and ending June 30, 1963, to.........    307,000,000,000
                            (2) beginning July 1, 1963, and ending August 31, 1963, to.......    309,000,000,000

      August 27, 1963
77 Stat. 131..............  Increased sec. 21 limitation during the period beginning             309,000,000,000
                             September 1, 1963, and ending November 30, 1963, to.

     November 26, 1963
77 Stat. 342..............  Increased sec. 21 limitation during the periods:
                            (1) beginning December 1, 1963, and ending June 29, 1964, to.....    315,000,000,000
                            (2) ending June 30, 1964, to.....................................    309,000,000,000

       June 29, 1964
78 Stat. 225..............  Increased sec. 21 limitation during the period beginning June 29,    324,000,000,000
                             1964, and ending June 30, 1965, to.

       June 24, 1965
79 Stat. 172..............  Increased sec. 21 limitation during the period beginning July 1,     328,000,000,000
                             1965, and ending June 30, 1966, to.

       June 24, 1966
80 Stat. 221..............  Increased sec. 21 limitation during the period beginning July 1,     330,000,000,000
                             1966, and ending June 30, 1967, to.

       March 2, 1967
81 Stat. 4................  Increased sec. 21 limitation during the period beginning March 2,    336,000,000,000
                             1967, and ending June 30, 1967, to.
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                      Table 7.3--STATUTORY LIMITS ON FEDERAL DEBT: 1940-CURRENT--Continued
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                Dollar Amount of
       Date and Act                               History of Legislation                             Limit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       June 30, 1967
81 Stat. 99...............  Sec. 21 amended to increase limitation on aggregate outstanding      358,000,000,000
                             at any time to.
                            Sec. 21 amended also to increase the limitation temporarily,
                             beginning July 1, 1968, and each July 1 thereafter for the
                            period beginning July 1 and ending June 29 of each succeeding
                             calendar year by $7 billion, providing an operating
                            limitation of....................................................    365,000,000,000

       April 7, 1969
83 Stat. 7................  Amended sec. 21, increasing limitation to $365 billion, and
                             increased sec. 21 limitation by $12 billion during period
                            beginning April 7, 1969, and ending June 30, 1970................    377,000,000,000

       June 30, 1970
84 Stat. 368..............  Amended sec. 21, increasing limitation to $380 billion, and
                             increased sec. 21 limitation by $15 billion during period
                            beginning July 1, 1970, and ending June 30, 1971.................    395,000,000,000

      March 17, 1971
85 Stat. 5................  Amended sec. 21, increasing limitation to $400 billion, and
                             increased sec. 21 limitation by $30 billion during period
                            beginning March 17, 1971, and ending June 30, 1972...............    430,000,000,000

      March 15, 1972
86 Stat. 63...............  Amended sec. 21, to further increase the limitation temporarily
                             by $20 billion during period beginning March 15, 1972, and
                            ending June 30, 1972.............................................    450,000,000,000

       July 1, 1972
86 Stat. 406..............  Amended act of March 15, 1972, striking out June 30, 1972, and       450,000,000,000
                             inserting in lieu thereof October 31, 1972.

     October 27, 1972
86 Stat. 1324.............  Increased sec. 21 limitation during the period beginning November    465,000,000,000
                             1, 1972, and ending June 30, 1973.

       July 1, 1973
86 Stat. 1324.............  Amended act of October 27, 1972, striking out June 30, 1973, and     465,000,000,000
                             inserting in lieu thereof November 30, 1973.

     December 3, 1973
87 Stat. 691..............  Increased sec. 21 limitation during the period beginning December    475,700,000,000
                             3, 1973, and ending June 30, 1974.

       June 30, 1974
88 Stat. 285..............  Increased sec. 21 limitation during the period beginning June 30,    495,000,000,000
                             1974, and ending March 31, 1975.

     February 19, 1975
89 Stat. 5................  Increased sec. 21 limitation during the period beginning February    577,000,000,000
                             19, 1975, and ending June 30, 1975.

       June 30, 1975
89 Stat. 246..............  Increased sec. 21 limitation during the period beginning June 30,    577,000,000,000
                             1975, and ending November 15, 1975.

     November 14, 1975
89 Stat. 693..............  Increased sec. 21 limitation during the period beginning November    595,000,000,000
                             14, 1975, and ending March 15, 1976.

      March 15, 1976
90 Stat. 217..............  Increased sec. 21 limitation during the period beginning March       627,000,000,000
                             15, 1976, and ending June 30, 1976.

       June 30, 1976
90 Stat. 793..............  Increased sec. 21 limitation during the periods:
                            (1) beginning July 1, 1976, and ending September 30, 1976, to....    636,000,000,000
                            (2) beginning October 1, 1976, and ending March 31, 1977, to.....    682,000,000,000
                            (3) beginning April 1, 1977, and ending September 30, 1977, to...    700,000,000,000
                            Temporary increase terminated October 1, 1977, and limitation        400,000,000,000
                             reverted to.

      October 4, 1977
91 Stat. 1090.............  Increased sec. 21 limitation by $352 billion during the period       752,000,000,000
                             beginning October 4, 1977, and ending March 31, 1978.

      March 27, 1978
92 Stat. 185..............  Amended act of October 4, 1977, striking out March 31, 1978, and     752,000,000,000
                             inserting in lieu thereof July 31, 1978.
                            Temporary increase terminated August 1, 1978, and limitation         400,000,000,000
                             reverted to.

      August 3, 1978
92 Stat. 419..............  Increased sec. 21 limitation by $398 billion during the period       798,000,000,000
                             beginning August 3, 1978, and ending March 31, 1979.
                            Temporary increase terminated April 1, 1979, and limitation          400,000,000,000
                             reverted to.

       April 2, 1979
93 Stat. 8................  Increased sec. 21 limitation by $430 billion during the period       830,000,000,000
                             beginning April 2, 1979, and ending September 30, 1979.

    September 29, 1979
93 Stat. 589..............  Increased sec. 21 limitation by $479 billion during the period       879,000,000,000
                             beginning September 29, 1979, and ending May 31, 1980.

       May 30, 1980
94 Stat. 421..............  Amended act of September 29, 1979, striking out May 31, 1980, and    879,000,000,000
                             inserting in lieu thereof June 5, 1980.

       June 6, 1980
94 Stat. 439..............  Amended act of September 29, 1979, striking out June 5, 1980, and    879,000,000,000
                             inserting in lieu thereof June 30, 1980.

       June 28, 1980
94 Stat. 598..............  Increased sec. 21 limitation by $525 billion during the period       925,000,000,000
                             beginning June 28, 1980, and ending February 28, 1981.
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                      Table 7.3--STATUTORY LIMITS ON FEDERAL DEBT: 1940-CURRENT--Continued
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                Dollar Amount of
       Date and Act                               History of Legislation                             Limit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     December 19, 1980
94 Stat. 3261.............  Increased the total debt limit (composed of $400.0 billion of        935,100,000,000
                             permanent ceiling, $535.1 billion of temporary ceiling) to.

     February 7, 1981
95 Stat. 4................  Increased the temporary portion of the debt limit to $585.0
                             billion through September 30, 1980, raising the total debt
                            ceiling to.......................................................    985,000,000,000

    September 30, 1981
95 Stat. 955..............  Increased the temporary portion of the debt limit to $599.8          999,800,000,000
                             billion for one day--September 30, 1981.

    September 30, 1981
95 Stat. 956..............  Increased the temporary portion of the debt limit to $679.8        1,079,800,000,000
                             billion through September 30, 1982.

       June 28, 1982
96 Stat. 130..............  Increased the temporary portion of the debt limit to $743.1        1,143,100,000,000
                             billion through September 30, 1982.

    September 30, 1982
96 Stat. 1156.............  Increased the temporary portion of the debt limit to $890.2        1,290,200,000,000
                             billion through September 30, 1983.

       May 26, 1983
97 Stat. 196..............  Eliminated the distinction between permanent and temporary limit
                             with the enactment of a single permanent limit.
                            Raised the debt limit to.........................................  1,389,000,000,000

     November 21, 1983
97 Stat. 1012.............  Increased the debt limit to......................................  1,490,000,000,000

       May 25, 1984
98 Stat. 217..............  Increased the debt limit to......................................  1,520,000,000,000

       July 6, 1984
98 Stat. 313..............  Increased the debt limit to......................................  1,573,000,000,000

     October 13, 1984
98 Stat. 2206.............  Increased the debt limit to......................................  1,823,800,000,000

     November 14, 1985
99 Stat. 814..............  Increased the debt limit temporarily through December 6, 1985 to.  1,903,800,000,000

     December 12, 1985
99 Stat. 1037.............  Increased the debt limit to......................................  2,078,700,000,000

      August 21, 1986
100 Stat. 818.............  Increased the debt limit to......................................  2,111,000,000,000

     October 21, 1986
100 Stat. 1968............  Increased the debt limit temporarily through May 15, 1987 to.....  2,300,000,000,000

       May 15, 1987
101 Stat. 308.............  Increased the debt limit temporarily through July 17, 1987 to....  2,320,000,000,000

       July 30, 1987
101 Stat. 542.............  Increased the debt limit temporarily through August 6, 1987 to...  2,320,000,000,000

      August 10, 1987
101 Stat. 550.............  Increased the debt limit temporarily through September 23, 1987    2,352,000,000,000
                             to.

    September 29, 1987
101 Stat. 754.............  Increased the debt limit to......................................  2,800,000,000,000

      August 7, 1989
103 Stat. 182.............  Increased the debt limit temporarily through October 31, 1989 to.  2,870,000,000,000

     November 8, 1989
103 Stat. 830.............  Increased the debt limit to......................................  3,122,700,000,000

      August 9, 1990
104 Stat. 403.............  Increased the debt limit temporarily through October 2, 1990 to..  3,195,000,000,000

      October 2, 1990
104 Stat. 878.............  Increased the debt limit temporarily through October 6, 1990 to..  3,195,000,000,000

      October 9, 1990
104 Stat. 897.............  Increased the debt limit temporarily through October 19, 1990 to.  3,195,000,000,000

     October 19, 1990
104 Stat. 1033............  Increased the debt limit temporarily through October 24, 1990 to.  3,195,000,000,000

     October 25, 1990
104 Stat. 1078............  Increased the debt limit temporarily through October 27, 1990 to.  3,195,000,000,000

     October 28, 1990
104 Stat. 1087............  Increased the debt limit temporarily through November 5, 1990 to.  3,230,000,000,000

     November 5, 1990
104 Stat. 1388-560........  Increased the debt limit to......................................  4,145,000,000,000

       April 6, 1993
107 Stat. 42..............  Increased the debt limit temporarily through September 30, 1993    4,370,000,000,000
                             to.
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                      Table 7.3--STATUTORY LIMITS ON FEDERAL DEBT: 1940-CURRENT--Continued
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                Dollar Amount of
       Date and Act                               History of Legislation                             Limit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      August 10, 1993
107 Stat. 565.............  Increased the debt limit to......................................  4,900,000,000,000

     February 8, 1996
110 Stat. 55..............  Temporarily exempted from limit obligations in an amount equal to
                             the monthly insurance benefits payable under Title II of
                            the Social Security Act in March 1996, the exemption to expire on
                             the earlier of an increase in the limit or March 15, 1996.

      March 12, 1996
110 Stat. 825.............  Temporarily exempted from limit (a) obligations in an amount
                             equal to the monthly insurance benefits payable under Title II
                             of
                            the Social Security Act in March 1996 and (b) certain obligations
                             issued to trust funds and other Federal Government accounts,
                            both exemptions to expire on the earlier of an increase in the
                             limit or March 30, 1996.

      March 29, 1996
110 Stat. 875.............  Increased the debt limit to......................................  5,500,000,000,000

      August 5, 1997
111 Stat. 648.............  Increased the debt limit to......................................  5,950,000,000,000

       June 28, 2002
116 Stat. 734.............  Increased the debt limit to......................................  6,400,000,000,000

       May 27, 2003
117 Stat. 710.............  Increased the debt limit to......................................  7,384,000,000,000

     November 19, 2004
118 Stat. 2337............  Increased the debt limit to......................................  8,184,000,000,000

      March 20, 2006
120 Stat. 289.............  Increased the debt limit to......................................  8,965,000,000,000

    September 29, 2007
121 Stat. 988.............  Increased the debt limit to......................................  9,815,000,000,000
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