[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 27 (Friday, February 18, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E272]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             FULL-YEAR CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2011

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                               speech of

                            HON. JEFF DUNCAN

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 15, 2011

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 1) making 
     appropriations for the Department of Defense and the other 
     departments and agencies of the Government for the fiscal 
     year ending September 30, 2011, and for other purposes:

  Mr. DUNCAN of South Carolina. Mr. Chair, with the federal budget 
deficit soaring past $1.5 trillion dollars, our national debt is no 
longer simply a pressing economic problem. It is a looming catastrophe. 
If we do not reduce government spending immediately and by massive 
amounts America will never recover. The annual deficit alone equates to 
nearly $5,000 for every man woman and child. That means we are spending 
$5,000 per person more than we take in each year. The amount of total 
debt our government has accumulated is much too great for our citizens 
to even fathom at $14 trillion.
  I agree with the nonpartisan Eagle Forum citizen advocacy group which 
recently stated that if we do not drastically reduce spending now, the 
problem won't simply be that our children and grandchildren will be 
saddled with debt. Our currency will become worthless, economic growth 
will become nearly impossible and our nation will be plunged into a 
modern equivalent of the dark ages. Our only choice is to drastically 
reduce the size and cost of our government. It is not possible to raise 
taxes high enough to pay for all the spending the President wants. 
Despite the tremendous work ethic and resourcefulness of the American 
people, it is no longer even possible for the United States to grow our 
way out of this mess. Freezing spending is not enough. Merely trimming 
spending is not enough. We need to cut and cut deeply. Representatives 
Jim Jordan and Scott Garrett and Senator Jim DeMint have proposed $173 
billion of discretionary spending cuts over the next two years, $16.1 
billion in cuts to Medicaid, ending the ``stimulus'' program which will 
save $45 billion, and ending government ownership of Fannie Mae and 
Freddie Mac, saving another $30 billion. This proposal is an excellent 
start. It is necessary. And it may be America's only hope if we wish to 
avoid an economic calamity.

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