[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 39 (Wednesday, April 13, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: April 13, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
            IRRESPONSIBLE CONGRESS? HERE IS TODAY'S BOXSCORE

  Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, the Federal debt stood at 
$4,565,109,054,876.30 as of the close of business yesterday, Tuesday, 
April 12. Averaged out, every man, woman, and child in America owes a 
part of this massive debt, and that per capita share amounts to 
$17,510.23.
  Now, Mr. President, I have been making these reports for the better 
part of 2 years every day the Senate has been in session, and the 
Federal debt continues to climb, at the very same time Senators are 
going home and saying, ``Oh, we are fighting this big deficit in 
Washington, DC.'' The responsibility for this Federal debt lies on the 
doorstep of the current U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives 
because no President, be he Democrat, Republican, Independent or 
otherwise, can spend one penny that is not first authorized and 
appropriated by the Congress of the United States.
  I give these figures updated every day to remind the American people 
that the spending in Washington, DC does matter, and it is having a 
startling, adverse effect on the futures of young people.
  I thank the Chair. I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from North Carolina suggests the 
absence of a quorum. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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