Title 31, Money and FinanceRelease 119-110
§3101A Presidential Modification of the Debt Ceiling
Title 31 › SUBTITLE III — FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT › CHAPTER 31 — PUBLIC DEBT › SUBCHAPTER I — BORROWING AUTHORITY › § 3101A
Summary
The President can tell Congress in writing, no later than December 31, 2011, that the amount of federal debt is within $100,000,000,000 of the legal limit and that more borrowing is needed. If the President does that, the Treasury may borrow up to $900,000,000,000 in two steps. Right when the President sends the notice, the debt limit goes up by $400,000,000,000. If Congress does not pass a special disapproval law in time, the limit then rises by another $500,000,000,000 (so $900,000,000,000 total). After that $900,000,000,000 action, the President can send a second written notice when the debt again comes within $100,000,000,000 of the limit. That second notice allows borrowing equal to $1,200,000,000,000 normally, $1,500,000,000,000 if the Archivist has sent a proposed balanced‑budget amendment to the states, or an amount equal to certain enacted deficit reductions up to $1,500,000,000,000. If Congress does not pass the special disapproval law in the allowed time, the debt limit increases by the full amount authorized by that second notice. Congress has fast rules to act on the President’s notices. For the first notice, Congress has 50 calendar days to pass the limited disapproval resolution; for the second notice it has 15 calendar days. The disapproval measure must be introduced on very specific days, include only a short title naming the date of the President’s submission, and contain only one clause rejecting the President’s action. The House must meet quickly, committees must report within 5 days or be discharged, and debate is tightly limited (two hours in the House; ten hours in the Senate). The disapproval resolution cannot be changed in either House. If Congress passes and the President signs (or allows to become law) such a disapproval within the 50‑day period for the first notice, or Congress overrides a veto in time, the larger increases do not take effect except for the immediate $400,000,000,000 increase; and the Office of Management and Budget must carry out a $400,000,000,000 sequestration of spending under the existing deficit‑control rules.
Full Legal Text
Title 31, §3101A
Money and Finance, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)In General.—
(1)$900 billion.—
(A)Certification.—
If, not later than December 31, 2011, the President submits a written certification to Congress that the President has determined that the debt subject to limit is within $100,000,000,000 of the limit in section 3101(b) and that further borrowing is required to meet existing commitments, the Secretary of the Treasury may exercise authority to borrow an additional $900,000,000,000, subject to the enactment of a joint resolution of disapproval enacted pursuant to this section. Upon submission of such certification, the limit on debt provided in section 3101(b) (referred to in this section as the “debt limit”) is increased by $400,000,000,000.
(B)Resolution of disapproval.—
Congress may consider a joint resolution of disapproval of the authority under subparagraph (A) as provided in subsections (b) through (f). The joint resolution of disapproval considered under this section shall contain only the language provided in subsection (b)(2). If the time for disapproval has lapsed without enactment of a joint resolution of disapproval under this section, the debt limit is increased by an additional $500,000,000,000.
(2)Additional amount.—
(A)Certification.—
If, after the debt limit is increased by $900,000,000,000 under paragraph (1), the President submits a written certification to Congress that the President has determined that the debt subject to limit is within $100,000,000,000 of the limit in section 3101(b) and that further borrowing is required to meet existing commitments, the Secretary of the Treasury may, subject to the enactment of a joint resolution of disapproval enacted pursuant to this section, exercise authority to borrow an additional amount equal to—
(i)$1,200,000,000,000, unless clause (ii) or (iii) applies;
(ii)$1,500,000,000,000 if the Archivist of the United States has submitted to the States for their ratification a proposed amendment to the Constitution of the United States pursuant to a joint resolution entitled “Joint resolution proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States”; or
(iii)if a joint committee bill to achieve an amount greater than $1,200,000,000,000 in deficit reduction as provided in section 401(b)(3)(B)(i)(II) of the Budget Control Act of 2011 is enacted, an amount equal to the amount of that deficit reduction, but not greater than $1,500,000,000,000, unless clause (ii) applies.
(B)Resolution of disapproval.—
Congress may consider a joint resolution of disapproval of the authority under subparagraph (A) as provided in subsections (b) through (f). The joint resolution of disapproval considered under this section shall contain only the language provided in subsection (b)(2). If the time for disapproval has lapsed without enactment of a joint resolution of disapproval under this section, the debt limit is increased by the amount authorized under subparagraph (A).
(b)Joint Resolution of Disapproval.—
(1)In general.—
Except for the $400,000,000,000 increase in the debt limit provided by subsection (a)(1)(A), the debt limit may not be raised under this section if, within 50 calendar days after the date on which Congress receives a certification described in subsection (a)(1) or within 15 calendar days after Congress receives the certification described in subsection (a)(2) (regardless of whether Congress is in session), there is enacted into law a joint resolution disapproving the President’s exercise of authority with respect to such additional amount.
(2)Contents of joint resolution.—
For the purpose of this section, the term “joint resolution” means only a joint resolution—
(A)(i)for the certification described in subsection (a)(1), that is introduced on September 6, 7, 8, or 9, 2011 (or, if the Senate was not in session, the next calendar day on which the Senate is in session); and
(ii)for the certification described in subsection (a)(2), that is introduced between the date the certification is received and 3 calendar days after that date;
(B)which does not have a preamble;
(C)the title of which is only as follows: “Joint resolution relating to the disapproval of the President’s exercise of authority to increase the debt limit, as submitted under section 3101A of title 31, United States Code, on ______” (with the blank containing the date of such submission); and
(D)the matter after the resolving clause of which is only as follows: “That Congress disapproves of the President’s exercise of authority to increase the debt limit, as exercised pursuant to the certification under section 3101A(a) of title 31, United States Code.”.
(c)Expedited Consideration in House of Representatives.—
(1)Reconvening.—
Upon receipt of a certification described in subsection (a)(2), the Speaker, if the House would otherwise be adjourned, shall notify the Members of the House that, pursuant to this section, the House shall convene not later than the second calendar day after receipt of such certification.
(2)Reporting and discharge.—
Any committee of the House of Representatives to which a joint resolution is referred shall report it to the House without amendment not later than 5 calendar days after the date of introduction of a joint resolution described in subsection (a). 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.
(3)Proceeding to consideration.—
After each committee authorized to consider a joint resolution reports it to the House or has been discharged from its consideration, it shall be in order, not later than the sixth day after introduction of a joint resolution under subsection (a), to move to proceed to consider the joint resolution in the House. All points of order against the motion are waived. Such a motion shall not be in order after the House 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.
(4)Consideration.—
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 two hours of debate equally divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent. A motion to reconsider the vote on passage of the joint resolution shall not be in order.
(d)Expedited Procedure in Senate.—
(1)Reconvening.—
Upon receipt of a certification under subsection (a)(2), if the Senate has adjourned or recessed for more than 2 days, the majority leader of the Senate, after consultation with the minority leader of the Senate, shall notify the Members of the Senate that, pursuant to this section, the Senate shall convene not later than the second calendar day after receipt of such message.
(2)Placement on calendar.—
Upon introduction in the Senate, the joint resolution shall be immediately placed on the calendar.
(3)Floor consideration.—
(A)In general.—
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 subsection (a) and, for the certification described in subsection (a)(1), ending on September 14, 2011, and for the certification described in subsection (a)(2), on the 6th day after the date on which Congress receives a certification under subsection (a) (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.
(B)Consideration.—
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.
(C)Vote on passage.—
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.
(D)Rulings of the chair on procedure.—
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.
(e)Amendment Not in Order.—
A joint resolution of disapproval considered pursuant to this section shall not be subject to amendment in either the House of Representatives or the Senate.
(f)Coordination With Action by Other House.—
(1)In general.—
If, before passing the joint resolution, one House receives from the other a joint resolution—
(A)the joint resolution of the other House shall not be referred to a committee; and
(B)the procedure in the receiving House shall be the same as if no joint resolution had been received from the other House until the vote on passage, when the joint resolution received from the other House shall supplant the joint resolution of the receiving House.
(2)Treatment of joint resolution of other house.—
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.
(3)Treatment of companion measures.—
If, following passage of the joint resolution in the Senate, the Senate then receives the companion measure from the House of Representatives, the companion measure shall not be debatable.
(4)Consideration after passage.—
(A)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 appropriate calendar day period described in subsection (b)(1).
(B)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.
(5)Veto override.—
If within the appropriate calendar day period described in subsection (b)(1), Congress overrides a veto of the joint resolution with respect to authority exercised pursuant to paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (a), the limit on debt provided in section 3101(b) shall not be raised, except for the $400,000,000,000 increase in the limit provided by subsection (a)(1)(A).
(6)Sequestration.—
(A)If within the 50-calendar day period described in subsection (b)(1), the President signs the joint resolution, the President allows the joint resolution to become law without his signature, or Congress overrides a veto of the joint resolution with respect to authority exercised pursuant to paragraph (1) of subsection (a), there shall be a sequestration to reduce spending by $400,000,000,000. OMB shall implement the sequestration forthwith.
(B)OMB shall implement each half of such sequestration in accordance with section 255, section 256, and subsections (c), (d), (e), and (f) of section 253 of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, and for the purpose of such implementation the term “excess deficit” means the amount specified in subparagraph (A).
(g)Rules of House of Representatives and Senate.—
This subsection and subsections (b), (c), (d), (e), and (f) (other than paragraph (6)) are enacted by Congress—
(1)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
(2)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.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
References in Text
section 401(b)(3)(B)(i)(II) of the Budget Control Act of 2011, referred to in subsec. (a)(2)(A)(iii), is section 401(b)(3)(B)(i)(II) of title IV of Pub. L. 112–25, which is set out in a note under section 900 of Title 2, The Congress. section 255, section 256, and subsections (c), (d), (e), and (f) of section 253 of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, referred to in subsec. (f)(6)(B), are classified to section 905, 906, and 903(c) to (f), respectively, of Title 2, The Congress.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
31 U.S.C. § 3101A
Title 31, Money and Finance
Last Updated
Sep 22, 2026
Release point: 119-110