Proposing a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution

Floor Speech

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Mr. DUNCAN of South Carolina. I simply ask: Are you better off today than you were $4 trillion ago?

I say not.

Mr. Speaker, I come to the floor today to discuss the most important issue that we will take up this year, and that is a balanced budget amendment to the United States Constitution.

For much too long, Congress has allowed mountains of debt to pile upon our children and our grandchildren. We are in debt to the tune of $15 trillion, and we continue to spend each year in excess of $1 trillion more than we are bringing in.

In the short time that I have been a Member of Congress, it is evident to me that Washington will never voluntarily make the significant cuts to spending. That's why we need to pass a balanced budget amendment, which would force Washington to do what families and small businesses do each and every year: live within their means and stop the spending insanity. It's common sense not spending more than you have; but maybe that's too simple for those who gain some sort of power by providing services that our Nation cannot afford and by spending money that we don't have.

A balanced budget amendment: the right bill at the right time for America to regain control of its finances.

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