Mike Levin: “I understand. But my question is not that, because this section 2 does not say that limit of the debt of the United…”

“I understand. But my question is not that, because this section 2 does not say that limit of the debt of the United States shall not be increased unless three-fifths vote. The sponsors have gone over the words very carefully. This is an amendment to the Constitution. They have gone over each word. I assume that it is very clearly their intent that it not be the limit of the debt of the United States, but just a part of that debt which they say will not be increased except by three-fifths vote. So my question again to my dear friend from Illinois is this: Is there currently a statutory limit on the debt of the United States which is held by the public? That is my specific question.”