Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) and Sen. Mike Braun (R-IN) introduced a resolution on Wednesday that seeks to recognize the United States’s national debt as a threat to national security.

Both legislators cited reckless spending by the U.S. and unbalanced budgets, which have raised the national debt to $31 trillion, as serious problems for the security of the country. Biggs argued that if the U.S. does not become more financially responsible, it would damage the country’s ability to fund its military.

“Our government’s spending spree is unsustainable and inches us closer to defaulting,” Biggs said in a statement. “America produces significant revenue and yet we continue to find ourselves in a position where we are unable to pay our bills. If our government does not become more fiscally responsible, we will no longer be able to adequately fund our military apparatus as well as basic societal services. That is a recipe for a disaster and enables our adversaries to surpass us on the global stage.”

“Raising the debt ceiling every year is a cop-out. This resolution will restore regular order to the appropriations process and acknowledge that Washington has a spending problem,” Biggs continued.

The U.S. reached its debt limit in January and could default on its loan if no deal to raise the debt ceiling is reached by the summer. If no deal is reached, the U.S. would default on its loans for the first time in history. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said her department is taking “extraordinary measures” to prevent the U.S. from defaulting on its obligations, but there are only a few months before the measures are exhausted.

“Our staggering national debt is the greatest national security threat to the United States, but no one wants to talk about it,” Braun said. “Washington needs political will and a backbone to stop reckless spending and restore regular order to address our fiscal crisis.”

The debate surrounding the national debt has become a hot topic in Congress ahead of the summer deadline. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) urged his party to negotiate with Republicans on raising the debt ceiling on Thursday, and Republicans called for spending cuts in any debt ceiling agreement.

Democratic lawmakers have resisted the call for concessions, mostly insisting on a clean increase to the debt limit. They also argued that risking default would be devastating for the U.S. economy.

Source: https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/house/biggs-braun-resolution-recognizing-national-debt-threat-national-security