[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 6]
[House]
[Page 8554]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           TACKLING THE DEBT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Georgia (Mr. Broun) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BROUN of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, the United States is the greatest 
Nation ever in the history of mankind--a Nation that many countries 
look to as a leader, a leader in strength, in security, in success. 
But, Mr. Speaker, we cannot lead from behind. We are behind on repaying 
our debts in a major way, all the while creating even more debt.
  Rather than focusing on raising the debt ceiling, Mr. Speaker, we 
should be putting all of our energy into reducing the debt. These 
overdue bills are bad for job creation and bad for our economy. As 
Admiral Mullen recently said: Our debt is the most dangerous threat to 
our national security. I could not agree more.
  If Congress continues to spend money as it has in the past, we will 
only become more reliant upon foreign countries to buy up our debt, 
making our economy secondary to theirs. It is dangerous. It is 
irresponsible. It is unforgivable.
  Mr. Speaker, this administration has taken our already weakened 
economy and turned it completely upside down, while allowing for the 
largest budget deficit in the history of the United States. The great 
cost of the stimulus bill, multiple government bailouts, and ObamaCare 
have pushed our country over the edge. I beg of my colleagues to not 
let this great Nation hit rock bottom before we make tackling the debt 
our first and foremost priority. Jobs, our economy, and our future 
depend upon it.

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