[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 133 (Wednesday, September 21, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: September 21, 1994]



         IS CONGRESS IRRESPONSIBLE? YOU BE THE JUDGE ABOUT THAT

  Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, before we ponder today's bad news about the 
Federal debt, perhaps a little pop quiz would be in order. How many 
million dollars would you say are in a trillion dollars? And when you 
answer that, just remember that Congress has run up a debt exceeding 
$4\1/2\ trillion.
  To be exact, as of the close of business Tuesday, September 20, the 
Federal debt stood--down to the penny--at $4,683,866,175,111.68 meaning 
that every man, woman and child in America owes $17,965.74 computed on 
a per capita basis.
  Mr. President, to answer the question--how many million in a 
trillion?--there are a million million dollars in a trillion dollars. I 
remind you, the Federal Government, thanks to the U.S. Congress, owes 
more than $4\1/2\ trillion.

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