[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 2]
[House]
[Pages 2655-2656]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  AN EXAMPLE OF FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Georgia (Mr. Loudermilk) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. LOUDERMILK. Mr. Speaker, during our recess, I had the opportunity 
to attend Oakland Heights Baptist Church in beautiful Cartersville, 
Georgia, as they celebrated a very special occasion.
  While Oakland Heights is a prominent church in our community, it 
would not be considered a large church in most metropolitan areas. The 
congregation consists of mostly average, hardworking Americans who love 
God and their families and are eager to help a neighbor in times of 
need.
  Throughout the years, the church has been a beacon of hope to those 
seeking truth and a haven to those seeking help. As a body of Christian 
believers, Oakland Heights also believes that it has a responsibility 
to not only serve our community, but to be an example.
  Three years ago, the pastor and the congregation of Oakland Heights 
determined their responsibilities to God and the community included 
being good stewards; although they were burdened with over $1 million 
of debt, they had a vision of being debt free.
  They were determined to pay off their debt within 3 years without 
affecting their core ministries to the congregation or the community. 
It wasn't easy. It took sacrifice; but, with determination, they stuck 
to their plan, lived within their means, and--in less than 3 years--
made the final payment on their bank note.
  During the time they were eliminating the debt, the church gave over 
a half a million dollars to local ministries, charities, and world 
missions. In less than 36 months, this relatively small congregation 
took on a mountain: a mountain of debt. At the end of last week's 
service, after hearing a sermon about moving mountains, the 
congregation celebrated as they burned their bank note.
  Today, I congratulate Pastor Joe McKaig and the congregation of 
Oakland Heights Baptist Church for achieving this significant goal and 
for being an example of fiscal responsibility.
  Mr. Speaker, if a church with a modest congregation in an average 
community can pay off an overwhelming debt, I believe the most powerful 
and influential Nation on the Earth should be

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able to pay off its overwhelming debt; but, just as with this church, 
it starts with a vision, followed by a plan and a determination to 
achieve the goal.
  Mr. Speaker, I have a vision, a vision of a debt-free America. With a 
goal, a sound fiscal plan that includes living within our means while 
providing the constitutional services of our government, we can achieve 
a debt-free Nation.
  We owe it to our children to 1 day, 1 day soon, write the final check 
to our creditors and burn America's bank note to the world.

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