H.R. 355: To increase the statutory limit on the public debt only upon the certification by the President of the submission to the States for their ratification of the proposed amendment to the Constitution of the United States to balance the Federal Budget or limit Federal spending.

H.R. 355: To increase the statutory limit on the public debt only upon the certification by the President of the submission to the States for their ratification of the proposed amendment to the Constitution of the United States to balance the Federal Budget or limit Federal spending.

113th Congress · introduced 2013-01-23 · Economics and Public Finance · Latest: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2013-01-23 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Crawford, Eric A. "Rick" [R-AR-1] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

To increase the statutory limit on the public debt only upon the certification by the President of the submission to the States for their ratification of the proposed amendment to the Constitution of the United States to balance the Federal Budget or limit Federal spending.

Plain summary

Increases the current public debt limit from $14.294 trillion to $16.994 trillion after the President certifies and submits to the states for ratification a joint resolution entitled: "Joint resolution proposing a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution," "Joint resolution proposing a spending limit amendment to the U.S. Constitution," or "Joint resolution proposing an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to restrict the power of Congress to enact legislation increasing any amount spent under entitlement programs or creating new entitlement programs."

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

To increase the statutory limit on the public debt only upon the certification by the President of the submission to the States for their ratification of the proposed amendment to the Constitution of the United States to balance the Federal Budget or limit Federal spending.

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

AI explanation – may be wrong, check the official text

No AI explanation yet. It takes up to a minute to write and is then saved for everyone.

Limited to a few requests an hour per person.

The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

Needs sources: no published arguments on this side yet. We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

Arguments against (opponents)

Needs sources: no published arguments on this side yet. We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

Alternatives

Needs sources: no published alternatives yet (for example a different bill, a law instead of an amendment, or keeping current law). We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Crawford, Eric A. "Rick" [R-AR-1] · 0 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Crawford, Eric A. "Rick" [R-AR-1] reported raising $1.1 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (2)

Joint resolution: In Texas, the type of measure the Legislature uses to propose a constitutional amendment (marked HJR or SJR). The governor does not sign or veto it; the voters decide. In Congress a joint resolution can also be used like a bill. In Florida, a joint resolution passed by three-fifths of the members of each chamber puts a constitutional amendment on the ballot.
Statute: A written law passed by a legislature. A statute can be changed by a later law; changing a constitution needs an amendment.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-113hr355.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/113/hr>

Record fed-us-cong113-hr355 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong113 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong113