[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 59 (Thursday, May 2, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S4616]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       THE VERY BAD DEBT BOXSCORE

  Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, a great many Americans don't have the 
faintest idea that the Federal debt is so incredibly enormous. Quite 
often, I ask friends if they know how many millions of dollars are 
there in a trillion?
  Few know, but one thing they do know is that it was the U.S. Congress 
that ran up the enormous Federal debt that is now over $5 trillion.
  To be exact, as of the close of business yesterday, May 1, 1996, the 
total Federal debt--down to the penny--stood at $5,096,321,323,731.34. 
On a per capita basis, every man, woman, and child in America owes 
$19,249.10.
  So, Mr. President, there are a million million in a trillion, which 
means that the Federal debt is now in excess of 5 million million 
dollars.

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