Bill Archer: “Mr. Speaker, the debate we are entering into today really should not have to occur at all. Our Nation is a great nation.…”

“Mr. Speaker, the debate we are entering into today really should not have to occur at all. Our Nation is a great nation. We are financially sound, and our credit is secure. We always have, and we always will pay our bills on time and in full. Regardless of the occasional wrangling that goes on between the White House and the Congress, we have always found a way to protect the full faith and credit of the United States of America, and this year will be no different. Republicans in Congress have pledged that we will take action to raise the debt limit prior to March 1. We will fulfill our responsibility, and I am confident that the President will fulfill his by signing the legislation that will come before the end of this month. That is why I deeply regret President Clinton and his advisers have fanned the political flames of fear by raising the specter that Social Security checks will not go out as a result of the current debate. Mr. Speaker, the bill before us is designed to protect America's seniors from the scare campaign President Clinton and his allies have been waging for political purposes. The Social Security checks will go out, and everyone knows it. The President is wrong to scare senior citizens, and he should not use them as pawns in this budget debate. But in an effort to reassure our seniors, this bill will give them a guarantee that they will get their checks no matter what President Clinton does.”