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Raise the Debt Limit

Floor Speech

Date: Oct. 23, 2015
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Entitlements and the Safety Net Government Budget and Spending

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Mr. HECK of Washington. Mr. Speaker, November 3 is when we reach our
statutory budget limit. That is when we must raise our debt limit or we
default on our obligations: Social Security payments, Medicare
reimbursements, and military paychecks.

Some critics don't want us to raise the limit. They say that spending
is too out of control; but, frankly, that is like going into a
restaurant, eating a meal, and then skipping out on the check because
you wanted to save on calories. If that happens, you are not paying
what you owe.

Even if you commit to spending nothing more, you are still on the
hook for your financial obligations and commitments. I have a lot of
hardworking small-business owners in my district. They don't skip out
on their bills, and they don't expect the government to either.

There is no doubt about it. Our economy will suffer. At a time when
our budget deficit is at its lowest level in 8 years, we should not
take this step backward. Let's pay our bills, not torch our economy.

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