[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 8]
[House]
[Page 11159]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            WASHINGTON'S IRRESPONSIBLE AND RECKLESS SPENDING

  (Mr. HURT asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. HURT. Madam Speaker, today I rise to address the urgent need to 
rein in the out-of-control government spending that has led this Nation 
to a dire debt crisis that is hindering job creation and threatens the 
very future of our country.
  The people of Virginia's Fifth Congressional District understand the 
importance of this issue. I continually hear from my constituents--
Republicans, Democrats, and independents--who say if we are serious 
about turning this economy around and preserving this country for our 
children and grandchildren, we must put an immediate end to 
Washington's irresponsible and reckless spending.
  Our Nation is now facing a $14 trillion debt and $1.5 trillion 
deficit. We are borrowing over $4 billion a day, and over 40 cents on 
every dollar we spend.
  As the President continues to request an increase in the debt limit, 
while remaining steadfast in his call for hundreds of billions of job-
crushing tax hikes, we are reminded of the need to put in place both 
short- and long-term fixes that will help restore fiscal discipline in 
our Nation's Capital once and for all. We need to make significant and 
immediate cuts to reduce our debt and deficit now. We need to put in 
place spending caps that limit spending as a percentage of GDP, and we 
need to pass a balanced budget amendment to force the government to 
live within its means.

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