[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 82 (Wednesday, May 17, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H5087]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             A HISTORIC DAY

  (Mr. KINGSTON asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. KINGSTON. Mr. Speaker, here we are. This is it. We are on the 
brink. For the first time since 1969, the U.S. House of Representatives 
will be passing a balanced budget amendment. This is a historic moment. 
This is significant. This is real.
  We spend almost $20 billion each month on the interest alone on the 
national debt. It is the third largest item, third largest expenditure 
in our annual budget. In 2 years it will exceed all of military 
spending. This has got to be brought under control.
  As my Democrat friend, the gentleman from Texas, Mr. Pete Geren, 
said, who benefits from balancing the budget? Senior citizens, 
children, students, the disabled. If you want to do something for them, 
you have got to give them a tomorrow. If you are going to give them a 
tomorrow, you have to spend your money properly today.
  This is not time for partisan rhetoric. This is not time for 
grandstanding. There are a lot of things you can criticize in this 
balanced budget amendment, but offer your own. This is the time to do 
it. This is a crucial crossroads for the United States of America.


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