[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 6 (Wednesday, January 18, 2012)]
[House]
[Page H69]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  PERMANENT STRUCTURAL REFORMS NEEDED

  (Mr. CRAWFORD asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. CRAWFORD. Madam Speaker, permanent structural reforms are needed 
in Washington. The Nation's debt is now greater than the value of the 
entire U.S. economy. Nonpartisan economists have noted that a debt to 
GDP ratio above 90 percent results in a reduction of economic growth. 
That means that the Obama administration's own economic model could be 
preventing the creation of nearly 1 million jobs.
  Over the last 2 weeks, I have talked to many of my constituents in 
Arkansas' First District, and nearly every person I spoke with told me 
that we must get our Nation's debt under control.
  The Federal Government has a spending addiction that is paralyzing 
our economy. We cannot keep spending money that we simply don't have. 
We must start living within our means, and we must stop growing our 
Nation's debt.
  Fundamental change must come to Washington to force this and future 
Congresses to live within our means. Both Republicans and Democrats are 
to blame for the poor fiscal health we find ourselves in, and whether 
the change is a balanced budget amendment or some other permanent 
binding measure, both parties must take the steps to prove that this 
Congress understands that our government cannot continue on its current 
path.

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