[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 81 (Wednesday, May 26, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E947-E948]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    OUR UNCONSCIONABLE NATIONAL DEBT

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                           HON. MIKE COFFMAN

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 26, 2010

  Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado. Madam Speaker, today our national debt 
surpassed $13 trillion.
  To put this in perspective, on January 6th, 2009, the start of the 
111th Congress, the national debt was $10.6 trillion.
  This means we have increased the debt by 18 percent in just 16 
months. This debt and its interest payments we are passing to our 
children and all future Americans. There is simply no way that we can 
maintain this type of spending without destroying our Nation.
  We know what happens to individuals that bury themselves in debt. We 
know what happens to companies and institutions that fail to maintain 
balanced books. And we know what happens to nations that spend this 
irresponsibly. We need only look overseas to the effects of such 
disastrous fiscal policies. But for some reason, a reason that wholly 
escapes me, the current administration and the majority in Congress 
continue to move forward with their ruinous plans.
  There is no reasonable national policy that can be implemented that 
assumes a national debt increasing by 18 percent in just 16 months. I 
think the fact that the House doesn't appear to be considering a budget 
this year proves that the Majority knows that as well but wants to hide 
the magnitude of the problem from the American people. We need to rein 
in this spending and address our deficit, our debt, and preserve our 
future.

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