[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 79 (Thursday, May 21, 2009)]
[House]
[Page H5895]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       EMBARK IN A NEW DIRECTION

  (Mr. ALTMIRE asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. ALTMIRE. Madam Speaker, it was a little over 8 years ago that 
this country had just had four consecutive budget surpluses. But now, 
as we find ourselves in the midst of our eighth consecutive budget 
deficit, Congress and the President are finally making the difficult 
decisions necessary to right the ship and begin digging our way out of 
the enormous hole the policies of the past have created.
  While we can't change the misguided decisions that doubled the 
national debt over the past 8 years, we can change course and adopt a 
more fiscally responsible policy.
  Our budget cuts the deficit by two-thirds over the next 4 years. And 
by reforming our health care system, reducing our dependence on foreign 
oil, and improving our education system, we are addressing the issues 
that are driving our long-term deficit.
  Madam Speaker, finally we have a Congress and an administration that 
are willing to put behind us the failed economic policies of the past 
and embark in a new direction.

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