Lee Metcalf: “Mr. Chairman, I want to conclude by attempting to put this amendment in perspective. At 3:30 this afternoon the national…”

“Mr. Chairman, I want to conclude by attempting to put this amendment in perspective. At 3:30 this afternoon the national debt of the United States was $5,155,309,827,707.59. The debt owed per person is $19,400. I have to point out that this figure is already outdated because it increases every few seconds. I know the savings achieved by freezing the congressional pay and the judges and the administrative officers is only a drop in the bucket of our staggering national debt. I know that we have tried hard to make progress in reducing the deficit and we have done some work on that. We have won some and we have lost some, but we have an awful long ways to go. I think that the opposition just does not feel to the depth that I feel that we have a real emergency in balancing this budget and we have to take very definite action. As we prioritize our spending and make the tough choices that affect millions and millions of American people, Members of Congress should stand shoulder to shoulder with those people and share the burden. Mr. Chairman, it is time for Congress to lead by example. I urge my colleagues to vote for the amendment.”