[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 13 (Wednesday, January 31, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H978]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         DEFAULTING ON THE DEBT

  (Ms. DeLAURO asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, last month, House Republicans shut down the 
Government to try to blackmail the President into signing their extreme 
agenda. Now, they are at it again. This time, the crowd that brought us 
two Government shutdowns is threatening to destroy our country's credit 
rating by defaulting on our debt.
  If Republicans have their way, the United States will default on our 
financial obligations for the first time in our history. Think about 
that--for 220 years our country has paid its bills and now that is 
about to change because extremists in this Congress would rather force 
a Government default then compromise on their right wing agenda for 
America.
  Two hundred and twenty years is a long time and much has changed. 
Once America was led by Madison and Jefferson, who became known as the 
Founding Fathers of our democracy. Now, we are left with Gingrich and 
Dole, who seem intent on becoming the deadbeat dads of democracy.

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