[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 15 (Wednesday, January 25, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H604-H605]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                       BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT

  (Mr. DOYLE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. DOYLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the only bipartisan, 
bicameral balanced budget amendment. I speak of the Stenholm-Schaefer 
amendment, House Resolution 28, of which I am a cosponsor. I 
cosponsored this resolution because I believe it is absolutely 
imperative that the 104th 
[[Page H605]] Congress pass a balanced budget amendment this year.
  Today, we will begin the debate on several different proposals that 
have been introduced as possibilities. All of these proposals have 
merit--and I believe that all of them are serious efforts at 
formulating the best possible amendment to the Constitution.
  However, I am concerned that we do not lose sight of our goal. As we 
engage in this debate, and examine the strengths and weaknesses of the 
various proposals, I urge my colleagues to remember how important it is 
to pass a balanced budget amendment. Our debt currently exceeds $4.3 
trillion. Since this House last voted on a balanced budget amendment 
last March, our debt has increased by more than $160 billion.
  This country needs a balanced budget amendment and the Stenholm-
Schaefer amendment is our best hope. While all other proposals will be 
dead on arrival in the Senate--the Stenholm-Schaefer amendment has the 
bipartisan support needed to actually pass in the Senate and I urge my 
colleagues to support it.

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