Reverse the Curse

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. ARRINGTON. Mr. Speaker, I and my colleagues are going to spend the next hour raising to the attention of every American the large and looming crisis that hangs over the heads of our fellow Americans, but especially the next generation of Americans on account of our ever- growing, massive, almost incalculable national debt at $31 trillion and counting; with a projection of $16 trillion over the next decade. By the way, half of that will be interest payments on the debt, without a single dollar or dime going to something productive, to help a soldier or a sailor or a senior with a safety net program. It will be servicing the debt of this country.

I believe this is the long-term greatest threat to America. As Admiral Mullen stated when asked by the defense community what the greatest national security threat was, he replied: The national debt is the greatest national security threat.

Why?

Because a debt crisis in any form will undermine our ability to provide for the common defense and have a military and weapons systems that will be sufficient for the ever-evolving and growing threats, especially the great power threats like China.

It will undermine economic security and prosperity, and this land of opportunity, this American promise for our children and grandchildren. I don't believe there is a more important issue.

In his Farewell Address, George Washington, our first President and one of the Founding Fathers, the Father of America, mentioned foreign influence, factions that divide us and weaken the bonds of American unity, and American oneness, but then he mentioned, `` . . . avoiding likewise the accumulation of debt not only by shunning occasions of expense, but by vigorous exertions in time of peace to discharge the debts which unavoidable wars may have occasioned . . . `'

Translation: You may have to borrow money when you are in a world war, but just like the last time we were over 100 percent debt-to-GDP, our Nation was willing to make the cuts to expenses and bring down the debt when we were in peacetime.

We are now at 128 percent over the size of debt relative to our economy in World War II. We are carrying the largest debt in the history of the United States, and we are not at war. The horizon and the trajectory, not only over 10 years, but if you look at 30 years, it is over $120 trillion in additional debt. It is mind-boggling. It is unconscionable. And I think it is immoral to hand a country--in such shambles fiscally and so bankrupt--to the next generation, and just literally wipe out their future and the blessings of liberty and opportunity that every generation of Americans have inherited to date.

George Washington says we should avoid these things. We should bend the expense curve. We should bring down debt, and not ungenerously throw that debt upon posterity, the burden, he says, `` . . . which we ourselves ought to bear.''

I see that every day in Congress. Instead of us bearing the burden by paying for the government that we believe the American people want--I am not so sure they want this government, this ever-expanding government--but when we are giving that government to them, we ought to pay for it and not defer the taxes on the next generation.

That is not the American way. That has not been the American tradition of our lawmakers. We are in a real bad spot and it is going to take courage. It is going to take courage from everybody, regardless of party, to find a way not only to start paying for things through expense cuts, and in the case of my Democrat colleagues, raising revenue.

We are way beyond just being able to offset and even grow the economy and get out of this debt hole. We are going to have to take extraordinary action. It is going to require extraordinary courage. Quite frankly, I haven't seen that on either side.

But I think we have a tremendous opportunity in the future as Republicans look to take over in the House as the majority party and then get to demonstrate to the American people leadership on this issue.

We have seen $5 trillion in new spending over the last 2 years under this administration--$5 trillion. And I hope and pray that my party will live up to the confidence and trust that the American people will put into us to steward this great Nation of ours and lead and take on the great challenge of the 21st century, which is the national debt.

Mr. Speaker, I have more to say but my dear friends my colleagues are here from all over the country to speak on this matter.

The first one is my dear friend from the First District of Kansas, a man who is no stranger to public service. He served his great State as Lieutenant Governor and is now serving in the United States Congress.

Mr. Speaker, he asked me to remind folks that he represents the great State of Kansas, and his alma mater, Kansas State, which upset the Oklahoma University Sooners. They beat them three out of the last four times so that is pretty darn impressive. With that track record, please lend him your ears, my fellow Americans.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. ARRINGTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Kansas.

I think it is important to be honest with the American people even if the truth hurts.

When I am asked who caused this disastrous level of debt, this deep hole that we have dug for our children and grandchildren, I say that while the Democrats have certainly done a whole lot of spending beyond our ability to pay and beyond what I think is the appropriate scope and scale of the Federal Government, which I think should be targeted and limited and focused on its mission, provide a common defense, and secure the liberties of us and our posterity, I am quick to remind them that Republicans have their fair share of blame.

And while I am celebrating the thought, the opportunity for Republicans to be in the majority and to fulfill this commitment to America, which includes curbing wasteful spending and ensuring that this government is accountable to we the people, let's be honest. I was here in the 115th Congress as a freshman, and I saw the contributions that my party contributed to this. I saw us blow past the spending caps that we voted for to constrain spending. I witnessed us put aside pay- for provisions to offset these programs that we think are so important and necessary for taxpayers.

I even was part of the Budget Committee that in the second year wasn't able to pass the budget out of the committee, let alone this Chamber.

So when we talk about the Democrats failing for the last 2 years to even pass a budget out of committee--which I am happy to say because it is the truth, and it is quite shameful for any party to not have a budget, let alone live by it, like every American--we, as Republicans, have made our contributions to this. And we ought to own it. We ought to feel the burn in our conscience until we actually unite as a party and reach across the aisle where we can to address, what I would call, a curse on the next generation of Americans.

Ben Franklin--God bless him--said, `` . . . when you run in debt; you give to another person power over your liberty.'' He said the second vice in public service is lying, the first is running up a debt.

I have got a good friend who I have come to respect tremendously, not only for his service in the United States Congress but his service to our country as a foreign service officer. He is wicked smart, and a great patriot. Peter Meijer hails from the Third District of Michigan, from the Great Lake State.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. ARRINGTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Michigan for his heartfelt comments and his deep concern for our country and our Nation's future under this gigantic weight of $30-plus trillion in debt and this dark cloud and the clouds that gather.

Mr. Speaker, I have another dear friend and colleague who is very passionate about this issue. Certainly a patriot, served his country, served the Lone Star in the House and Senate, and decided he would venture out here in Washington, D.C., to be another voice for the freedom-loving, God-fearing people of Texas.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. ARRINGTON. Mr. Speaker, I couldn't have said it better myself, and I thank the gentleman from Texas.

We need to harness that passion, and we need to unify not only our conference to lead by example but the entire United States Congress to take this on.

We do have existential threats, like our adversary China. We have a number of threats, and we have to address them responsibly and with urgency. But I don't see a bigger, long-term threat that could just knock the shine plum off the shining city on the hill than this boulder that is rolling downhill, this snowball that is going to impact every aspect from national security to our economy to domestic tranquility-- the whole shooting match, as we say in Texas--if we don't step up and have the courage to lead and to deliver for our children.

Speaking of children, I have a friend and colleague on the Ways and Means Committee who has raised a family and is expecting to have his children inherit this American promise, this exceptional Nation, and the future opportunities it affords our fellow countrymen. He ran a business, a family-owned construction company. He has served at the local and county level. He has served in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Senate, and I believe he was the leader of the senate's budget and finance committee, so this guy knows what he is talking about.

I imagine when he was leading the charge for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in the senate they balanced their budgets, they paid their debts, and they lived fiscally responsibly within their means because that is what leaders do with other people's money.

I am proud to hand over the mike to Lloyd Smucker for his comments, and I thank him for his service.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. ARRINGTON. Lloyd Smucker is my brother. We came in together and served our first term in the 115th Congress. I know he is committed to this. I am proud and confident in his leadership on the Budget Committee.

I just, again, share the sentiment of my colleagues and the sense of urgency--the sense of urgency. This crisis, this debt-related crisis, is very different from any other crisis we have experienced, in that, for example, with the pandemic and COVID, and the government's response to COVID which was sometimes the problem itself, but altogether, we were able to borrow and print enough money to bail out of it. But when the dominoes fall on a debt crisis, it doesn't matter how much China will lend us. It doesn't matter how much the Federal Reserve prints. They can print to their heart's desire. It won't fix it, and we will weaken this country, its global dominance, its global leadership, and the values that America represents to the entire world.

So I am grateful to Mr. Smucker.

This guy has run a business. I think I have heard him say, and I will paraphrase, if he ran his business like the knuckleheads in Congress run this country, he would have been bankrupt before he could ever make payroll, let alone make a living.

This is a man who is known for his Knute Rockne locker-room speeches like they did there in Notre Dame. Let me tell you, Mr. Speaker, he can fire you up, and he has a fire in his belly. I guarantee you, Mr. Speaker, when we get the majority--and I don't want to be presumptuous, I should say, God willing, if the people give us the majority--I know that this man is going to be riding herd on our conference and the entire Congress to do the right thing. He has four children and 10 grandchildren. That is what we call skin in the game.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. ARRINGTON. Mr. Speaker, I am grateful to Mr. Kelly and proud to call him a friend and colleague. I am going to shake his hand as he leaves.

Listen, this is what it is going to require. It is going to require that level of push and punch and clawing and scratching, yelling if necessary, kicking a chair over in the Chamber, and saying the House is on fire. It is going to burn down before our children ever taste the sweetness of the blessed life in this country.

I believe we are going to do it. I believe in this country, and I believe that the American people, especially over the last couple of years of this spending frenzy, are waking up to this.

One of the sinister elements of a debt crisis is you don't feel the pain until you feel the pain. But once you feel the pain, it is too late. The world cannot afford to have America in any position besides the pole position for the sake of stability, freedom, and the fundamental rights of every human.

Nobody knows that freedom is nothing without security more than a Navy fighter pilot who hails from the 25th District of California. He is an Iraq war veteran and was a State assemblyman. He flipped a seat that was Democrat for years, probably over 20 years, not because he was a great Republican but because he is a great man, and he is a great leader. He loves this country, and he just wants a safer, stronger, freer Nation for his two boys.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. ARRINGTON. Mr. Speaker, that was well said by my friend, Representative Garcia. I thank him for his service to the country in the Navy and in the United States Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I am inspired tonight. I am inspired by my colleagues who are ready to fight by taking on the tough issues, making the tough decisions, and exercising the courage that every leader in this country has that ever did anything meaningful for this great Nation, and for their posterity. We are ready for this.

I know one man has got a lot of fight in him; he is a warrior from Wisconsin. He is a man that is no stranger to the budget, to the budget process, and to the broken and dysfunctional dynamics and elements of the budget process in this place.

Mr. Speaker, I am thankful for Glenn Grothman from the great State of Wisconsin representing the Sixth District.

Mr. Speaker, I now yield to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Grothman).

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. ARRINGTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from Wisconsin and I am grateful for his courage. He speaks truth. He is not up here to win friends and influence people; he is up here to make sure the outcomes of our decisions are in the best interests of our country. And certainly bending the curve on spending, reining in our debt, and restoring fiscal responsibility is at the top of his list.

America is counting on him, and I am, too--as a senior Member of this body when we get the majority--to remind every single Republican and our colleagues on the other side of the aisle what is at stake. If we don't, what is at stake? I thank Mr. Grothman.

Mr. Speaker, how much time do I have remaining?

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. ARRINGTON. Mr. Speaker, we timed it perfectly. I will just wind down and then I will wind up the next speaker and dear friend and fellow Texan.

James Madison, I think, summarized it in his statement: A public debt is a public curse, and in a Republican form of government, the worst of its kind.

That cloud hanging over the heads of our children, that snowball coming down the mountain, that is the 21st century challenge. That is the bankrupting of our children's future by spending our country into oblivion.

It is our great challenge and we enter it with sober minds and with prayerful hearts that God would give us the courage to take on the forces in our own party and in this building and outside this building, and anything that stands in our way until we reverse the curse, and we can look into our children's eyes and we can tell them we have handed them this country better than we found it, like every generation of great leaders for this country.

Mr. Speaker, now I get to sit and listen to a great fighter for freedom, my fellow Texan (Mr. Roy).

God bless America.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source