Skip to main content
S 259 112th Congress Senate Economics and Public Finance Budget deficits and national debt Securities Social security and elderly assistance

A bill to require that the Government give priority to payment of all obligations on the debt held by the public and payment of social security benefits in the event that the debt limit is reached.

Introduced: February 10, 2011 See on congress.gov
Sign in to write a letter Sign in to watch
This bill died when the 112th Congress ended
It never became law before the 112th Congress (2011–2012) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Feb 2, 2011
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Feb 2, 2011
Introduced in Senate
 Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Declares that, in the event the debt of the federal government reaches the statutory limit, the authority of the Department of the Treasury to pay with legal tender the principal and interest on debt held by the public, and the authority of the Commissioner of Social Security to pay monthly old-age, survivors', and disability insurance benefits under title II of the Social Security Act, shall take priority over all other obligations incurred by the government.

What's happening now February 2, 2011

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

 Related & companion bills 4
  • HR 421 Related bill Full Faith and Credit Act
  • HR 728 Related bill To require that the Government give priority to payment of all obligations on the debt held by the public, payment of S…
  • S 163 Related bill Full Faith and Credit Act
  • HR 568 Identical bill To require that the Government give priority to payment of all obligations on the debt held by the public and payment o…
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 1
All 1 Republican 1
R
Paul, Rand
Kentucky · Feb 10, 2011
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 259: A bill to require that the Government give priority to payment of all obligations on the debt held by the public and payment of social security benefits in the event that the debt limit is reached.. 112th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/112-S-259/
MLA
"S. 259: A bill to require that the Government give priority to payment of all obligations on the debt held by the public and payment of social security benefits in the event that the debt limit is reached.." 112th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/112-S-259/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 259, 112th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/112-S-259/.
Markdown link
[S. 259: A bill to require that the Government give priority to payment of all obligations on the debt held by the public and payment of social security benefits in the event that the debt limit is reached.](https://openamerica.io/bill/112-S-259/)
Report a problem