H.R. 422: Default Prevention Act

115th Congress · introduced 2017-01-10 · 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 2017-01-10 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. McClintock, Tom [R-CA-4] · 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

Default Prevention Act

Plain summary

Default Prevention Act This bill requires the Department of the Treasury to continue to borrow to pay the principal and interest on certain obligations if the debt of the United States exceeds the statutory limit. If the debt limit is exceeded, Treasury must issue obligations solely for the payment of the principal and interest on debt held by the public or the Social Security trust funds. Obligations issued under this bill may not be used to compensate Members of Congress. If Treasury exercises authority provided by this bill, it must submit to Congress a report that includes an accounting of: (1) the principal on mature obligations and interest that is due or accrued, and (2) obligations issued under this bill.

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

Default Prevention Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

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

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. McClintock, Tom [R-CA-4] · 89 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Virginia Foxx (R-NC), Glenn Grothman (R-WI), Charles J. "Chuck" Fleischmann (R-TN), Paul A. Gosar (R-AZ), Andy Harris (R-MD), David Schweikert (R-AZ), Tom Emmer (R-MN), Barry Loudermilk (R-GA), Bruce Westerman (R-AR), Scott DesJarlais (R-TN), Frank D. Lucas (R-OK), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Gary J. Palmer (R-AL), Brett Guthrie (R-KY), Neal P. Dunn (R-FL), Jim Banks (R-IN), Mike Johnson (R-LA), David Rouzer (R-NC), Darrell Issa (R-CA), Joe Wilson (R-SC), Andy Barr (R-KY), Ann Wagner (R-MO), Brian Babin (R-TX), J. French Hill (R-AR) and 29 more.

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. McClintock, Tom [R-CA-4] reported raising $1.3 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 (4)

Bill: A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Obligation: A binding promise by a government agency to pay money, for example by signing a contract or awarding a grant. Spending data such as USAspending.gov counts money when it is obligated, which can be before it is actually paid out.
Securities: Financial investments that can be bought and sold, such as stocks and bonds.
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-115hr422.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/115/hr>

Record fed-us-cong115-hr422 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong115 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong115