H.R. 3946House116th Congress (2019-2021)In Committee

Debt Solution and Accountability Act

Introduced July 24, 2019

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 14, 2026 at 7:27 AM UTC

The Debt Solution and Accountability Act would make the Treasury Department regularly report to Congress after the federal debt limit is raised. The reports would detail the current size and composition of the debt, the factors driving future borrowing, and the President’s plans to reduce the debt over short, medium, and long‑term horizons. The bill also requires the Treasury to give congressional committees timely data on cash flows and any extraordinary measures used to stay under the limit.

Key Provisions

  • Within 60 days of a debt‑limit increase, the Treasury must submit a comprehensive report to key House and Senate committees covering the debt’s current state, historical levels, future projections, and how the U.S. will meet principal and interest obligations.
  • The report must also include the President’s detailed proposals to lower the debt in the short (0‑3 years), medium (5‑9 years), and long term (10‑25 years), plus analysis of impacts on spending, debt service, the dollar’s reserve‑currency role, and entitlement program sustainability.
  • A follow‑up progress report is required no later than 180 days after the initial report, showing how the President’s proposals are being implemented.
  • All reports must be posted on the Treasury’s website and remain accessible for at least six months.
  • The Treasury must, within 30 days of a written request from the House Ways‑and‑Means Chair or Senate Finance Chair, provide financial and economic data used in the Daily Treasury Statement, cash‑flow projections, and information on any extraordinary measures, up to four times per fiscal year per committee.

Legislative Activity

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HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

July 24, 2019

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

July 24, 2019

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

July 24, 2019

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued July 24, 2019

I

116th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 3946

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 24, 2019

Mr. Marchant (for himself, Mr. Schweikert, and Mr. Arrington) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

A BILL

To provide further means of accountability with respect to the United States debt and promote fiscal responsibility.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Debt Solution and Accountability Act.

2.

Secretary of the Treasury report to Congress after debt limit is increased

(a)

In general

Subchapter II of chapter 31 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

3131.

Report after debt limit is increased.

(a)

In general

Not more than 60 days after the limit specified under section 3101, as modified by section 3101A, is increased, the Secretary of the Treasury shall submit a report to the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives, the Committee on the Budget of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Finance of the Senate, the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, and the Committee on the Budget of the Senate consisting of the following:

(1)

Debt Report

A report on the state of the public debt, including—

(A)

the historical levels of the debt, current amount and composition of the debt, and future projections of the debt;

(B)

the drivers and composition of future debt; and

(C)

how the United States will meet debt obligations, including principal and interest.

(2)

Statement of intent

A detailed explanation of—

(A)

proposals of the President to reduce the public debt in the short term (the current and following three fiscal years), medium term (approximately five to nine fiscal years), and long term (approximately ten to twenty-five fiscal years), and proposals of the President to adjust the debt-to-gross domestic product ratio;

(B)

the impact the increased debt limit will have on future Government spending, debt service, and the position of the United States dollar as the international reserve currency; and

(C)

projections of fiscal health and sustainability of major direct-spending entitlement programs (including Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid).

(b)

Progress report

Not more than 180 days after the report described in subsection (a) is submitted, the Secretary of the Treasury shall submit a detailed report on the progress of implementing all proposals of the President described under paragraph (2)(A).

(c)

Public access to information

The Secretary of the Treasury shall furnish publicly accessible links on the web page of the Department of the Treasury to each report submitted under this section. Such links shall be available for not less than the 6-month period following the date of such submission.

.

(b)

Clerical amendment

The table of analysis for chapter 31 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 3130 the following:

3131. Report after debt limit is increased.

.

3.

Access to certain Treasury Department data

Not later than thirty days after receipt of a written request from the Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives or the Committee on Finance of the Senate but no more than four times per fiscal year for each, the Secretary of the Treasury shall provide to the requesting Chairman financial and economic data relevant to determining the amount of the public debt of the United States, including—

(1)

cash flow and debt transaction information used in preparing the Daily Treasury Statement, including current balances, receipts, and payments;

(2)

operating cash balance projections; and

(3)

relevant information regarding any extraordinary measures (as defined under section 3131(d) of title 31, United States Code) taken to prevent the public debt from exceeding the limitation imposed by section 3101 of title 31, United States Code, as modified by section 3101A of such title.