[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 77 (Wednesday, May 10, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H4675]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           A TIME FOR ACTION

  (Mr. GUTKNECHT asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GUTKNECHT. Mr. Speaker, I am a firm believer that actions have 
consequences. By the same token, doing nothing can have consequences as 
well. If Congress does nothing about Medicare or the budget, I doubt 
America could survive the consequences.
  The actions of Congress over the past generation have resulted in an 
enormous national debt. Servicing this debt consumes a large chunk of 
the over-all budget. If Congress does nothing about the disastrous 
trend of deficit spending, in 10 years we will be unable to meet other 
obligations while servicing the debt.
  Likewise, if Congress does nothing to protect Medicare, it too will 
become insolvent in just 7 years. Let me be clear, this information is 
coming from President Clinton's own people and is not a Republican 
gimmick.
  Mr. Speaker, the consequences for doing nothing are too great. We 
here in Congress have the ability and the responsibility to do 
something about these two problems. The debt poses a threat to future 
generations and a collapse of Medicare would hurt older Americans. Now 
is not the time for inaction or the arrogant avoidance of 
responsibility that has permeated Washington.

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