[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 17 (Wednesday, February 7, 2001)]
[House]
[Page H204]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       TIME TO GIVE BACK THE BUDGET SURPLUS TO AMERICA'S FAMILIES

  (Mr. GIBBONS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, many Nevadans have come to me and said, 
Jim, I just can't make ends meet. We are paying more and more in taxes. 
How are we supposed to save for our retirement, pay off our mortgage, 
or even send our kids to college?
  Well, Mr. Speaker, these concerns are real. According to the Census 
Bureau, the average household today pays almost $9,500 in Federal 
income taxes every year, and that is twice what it paid in 1985. By 
conservative estimates, the Federal Government will have a record-
breaking surplus this year of $5.6 trillion.
  Now it is time to grant the hard-working Americans the tax relief 
they so deserve and need. The tax relief package that President Bush 
has outlined will give $1,600 back to the average working American 
family of four. This $1,600 could pay their mortgage for a month, help 
pay off a credit card debt, or the tuition at a community college for 
one year.
  The surplus was created by the tax dollars of the American people. It 
belongs to them. There is no excuse for Congress not to give the hard-
working Americans what they want, what they need and what they deserve, 
a tax break. It is time to give the extra money back.

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