[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 176 (Wednesday, November 8, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H11833]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           THE NATIONAL DEBT

  (Mrs. SMITH of Washington asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute.)
  Mrs. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, today, the national debt 
stands at $4,984,737,460,958.92.
  This is a problem that has to be dealt with right now. We cannot 
afford to wait for another Congress somewhere down the road to balance 
the budget. It is way too late for excuses.
  The American people want results, they want an end to the blame-game 
excuses, and they want a balanced budget.
  Last week, Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan had this to say if 
Congress and the President fail to deliver a balanced budget: ``If, for 
some unknown reason, the political process fails, it would signal that 
the United States is not capable of putting its fiscal house in order, 
with serious, adverse consequences for financial markets and economic 
growth.''
  Mr. Speaker, Congress is doing its part and when it comes time, I 
hope the President will do his part and sign a real balanced budget 
that really puts people first.

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