[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 87 (Thursday, June 10, 2010)]
[House]
[Page H4334]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             CHECK THE DEBT

  (Mr. WILSON of Ohio asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute.)
  Mr. WILSON of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I share the concerns many Americans 
have about our country's financial future. I often hear from Ohioans 
who are worried about the financial burden we are leaving for the next 
generation. They want to know if there's anything they can do to help. 
That is why yesterday I introduced the Check the Debt Act.
  This bill would add a ``check the debt'' box to our annual tax forms. 
This would allow individuals to contribute $3 to help pay down the 
national debt, without adding to their tax bill. This option would be 
similar to the public financing of campaigns check, where a check the 
box is already available on tax forms. Nearly 33 million people each 
year respond to public campaign financing without adding to their tax 
bill. This raises nearly $100 million annually for campaign financing.
  That kind of money is a step in the right direction. It will enable 
and encourage Americans to lend a hand in paying down our debt. The $13 
trillion debt our country has built up over the last several decades 
will not go away overnight, but we must start somewhere.

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