[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 8]
[House]
[Page 10879]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          CONGRESS MUST BUDGET

  (Mr. FORTENBERRY asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. FORTENBERRY. Mr. Speaker, the national debt just surpassed $13 
trillion. Since 2000, the national debt and government spending have 
doubled, and in simple terms, every American citizen now owes $42,000 
toward this debt.
  To govern is to choose, Mr. Speaker, and choices must be made within 
our budget to resolve this dire situation. Yes, the choices before us 
are hard, and restoring economic strength will be very difficult. But 
tightening the belt, making hard choices and relieving the massive debt 
burden that will otherwise be left to our children and grandchildren, 
this is the charge of Congress. This is our duty. This is what the 
American people deserve
  Government spending and overreach are eroding economic confidence, 
yet there is neither a political will or a mechanism in Washington 
right now for addressing this spiraling debt and deficit/right now 
there isn't even a budget, and this is unconscionable and 
unsustainable. Our constituents deserve a Nation with its fiscal house 
in order, and this starts with a responsible budget plan.

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