[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 111 (Tuesday, July 11, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S9653]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           WAS CONGRESS IRRESPONSIBLE? LOOK AT THE ARITHMETIC

  Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, before contemplating today's bad news about 
the Federal debt, let us have ``another go,'' as the British put it, 
with our little pop quiz. Remember--one question, one answer.
  The question: How many million dollars in a trillion dollars? (While 
you are arriving at an answer, bear in mind that it was the U.S. 
Congress that ran up the Federal debt that now exceeds $4.9 trillion.)
  To be exact, as of the close of business yesterday, Monday, July 10, 
the exact Federal debt--down to the penny--stood at 
$4,924,014,991,181.29. This means that, on a per capita basis, every 
man, woman, and child in America now owes $18,691.65.
  Mr. President, back to the pop quiz: How many million in a trillion? 
There are a million million in a trillion.


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