[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 55 (Monday, May 9, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 9, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
            IRRESPONSIBLE CONGRESS? HERE IS TODAY'S BOXSCORE

  Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, before we ponder today's bad news about the 
Federal debt, let us do what I have done a time or two before. Let us 
have a little pop quiz. How many million would you say are in a 
trillion?
  When you figure that out, just consider that Congress has run up a 
debt now exceeding $4.5 trillion.
  To be exact, as of the close of business this past Friday, May 6, the 
Federal debt stood--down to the penny--at exactly 
$4,571,838,912,004.05. This means that every man, woman, and child in 
America owes $17,536.04, computed on a per capita basis.
  Now, Mr. President, to answer the question how many million in a 
trillion, there are a million million in a trillion. And I remind you, 
Mr. President, that the Federal Government, thanks to the U.S. 
Congress, where we work, owes more than $4.5 trillion.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The absence of a quorum has been 
suggested. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

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