[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 110 (Wednesday, July 30, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H6402-H6403]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           THE LAST TIME THERE WAS A BALANCED FEDERAL BUDGET

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Connecticut [Mr. Shays] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, I want to kind of catch my breath and to say 
to you after the budget agreement was passed in this Chamber I went 
back to my office, and on the back of my chair was this statement. It 
was from any staff, and I would like to read it.
  It said:

       The last time there was a balanced federal budget only four 
     members of your staff were alive. You and your wife Betsy 
     were teaching in the Peace Corps in the Fiji Islands. Your 
     press secretary still had training wheels. Your chief of 
     staff was drinking out of a bottle. Your scheduler had just 
     graduated from high school. Your assistant manager was still 
     using a typewriter. Half a million people were enjoying 
     Woodstock, and John Kasich was probably one them. Richard 
     Nixon was President. Neil Armstrong became the first man to 
     walk on the moon. The Academy Award winner was Midnight 
     Cowboy. The song of the year was Jesus Is Coming Soon. And 
     Newt was getting his Ph.D. We have a lot to look forward to, 
     and we will all benefit from the good work of this House.


[[Page H6403]]


  Mr. Speaker, this was a momentous day for so many people, and I just 
want to thank all the staffs throughout this Congress working here in 
this Chamber, the staffs that work for Members' personal offices, the 
staffs that work on all our committees for the tremendous work they 
have done year in and year out to help us get to this day.

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