East Arizona News

U.S. Representative David Schweikert (AZ-01) delivered a speech on the House Floor last night addressing the concerning projections of the national debt and the need for Congress to take action. Schweikert highlighted the fact that gross interest on the national debt in Fiscal Year 2024 is projected to exceed $1 trillion, making it the second largest expense in the government. He expressed his frustration, stating, "If I had come to this Floor a year or two ago and said gross interest in the 2024 fiscal year was going to cross over $1 trillion, you would’ve laughed your hearts out. Guess what? A couple of hours ago, OMB confirmed gross interest is going to be over $1 trillion this year, making it the second biggest expense of this government."

Schweikert also addressed the recent downgrade of the U.S. credit outlook by Moody's, stating, "You do realize there’s five or six countries now out there that have better credit ratings than the United States? Good jobs, guys. We should all be very, very proud of ourselves." He emphasized the need for Congress to put aside politics and work towards stabilizing the U.S. debt.

Additionally, Schweikert discussed the importance of addressing health issues such as diabetes in order to stabilize the economy. He stated, "It turns out it is not only a moral battle to save our brothers and sisters from dying young, it’s also the most powerful thing you can do to start to stabilize U.S. debt is to help Americans be healthier." Schweikert suggested that tackling obesity and related health issues could yield significant savings, stating, "We were coming up with a few trillion dollars over ten years by taking on obesity because of diabetes, heart disease, kidney failure, all these other things."

In his speech, Schweikert called on his colleagues to prioritize the nation's fiscal reality and work towards achieving a healthier society. He urged Congress to take action, emphasizing that ignoring the growing debt and credit concerns is no longer an option. As the national debt continues to rise and the U.S. credit rating faces downward pressure, Schweikert's words serve as a reminder that it is time for Congress to come together and address the pressing fiscal issues facing the nation.

For additional details, please follow this link: https://schweikert.house.gov/2023/11/14/schweikert-congress-can-no-longer-continue-to-ignore-our-fiscal-reality/