[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 34 (Thursday, February 26, 2009)]
[House]
[Page H2864]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  THE APPROACHING FINANCIAL HURRICANE

  (Mr. CULBERSON asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Speaker, the American people need to know that 
this Congress in less time has spent more money than any Congress in 
history. At a time in American history when we are at war worldwide 
with terrorists, at a time when we face financial crisis of 
unprecedented proportion, we, as Members of Congress, have a very 
special duty to protect the Treasury of the United States, to be 
careful, thoughtful and deliberative and an open process.
  And I want to thank my colleague, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur of Ohio. 
She's exactly right. We need to follow the committee process, absolute 
transparency, an opportunity to offer amendments, an opportunity for 
public hearings. Let the public see what bills we are considering.
  The stimulus, $800 billion, was only filed on the Internet 13 hours 
before the vote. And this Congress, in 21 days, has increased the 
annual budget of the United States by 110 percent, counting the 
President's budget today.
  Congressman Frank Wolf is going to speak for 5 minutes in just a 
minute. We must address the approaching financial hurricane. 
Congressman Wolf's commission deserves the attention of this Congress 
in a careful, thoughtful and deliberative way. Let the sun shine in, 
Mr. Speaker.

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