[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 80 (Monday, May 15, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S6678]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


          WAS CONGRESS IRRESPONSIBLE? THE VOTERS HAVE SAID YES

  Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, more than 3 years ago I began making daily 
reports to the Senate making a matter of record the exact Federal debt 
as of close of business the previous day. In the instances of my Monday 
reports, the information related to the close of business the previous 
Friday.
  As of the close of business Friday, May 12, the exact Federal debt 
stood at $4,859,130,274.89, meaning that on a per capita basis, every 
man, woman, and child in America owes $18,445.34 as his or her share of 
the Federal debt.
  It is important to note, Mr. President, that the United States had an 
opportunity to begin controlling the Federal debt by implementing a 
balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Unfortunately, the 
Senate did not succeed in its first opportunity to control this debt--
but there will be another chance during the 104th Congress.

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