Florida Senate - 2023 SM By Senator Avila 39-00242-23 2023176__ CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. Senate Memorial A memorial to the Congress of the United States, 2 urging members of Congress to take immediate action to address the current national debt and balance the federal budget. 5

WHEREAS, the United States’ national debt for the federal fiscal year 2021-2022, which ended September 30, 2022, totaled 8 $30.93 trillion, which represents an increase of $2.5 trillion in debt from the previous fiscal year, and

WHEREAS, the amount of debt carried by the Federal Government affects the amount of interest it pays in a fiscal year, and

WHEREAS, as of October 2022, the first month in the 2022-14 federal fiscal year, maintaining the national debt costs the Federal Government $48 billion per month or percent of total federal spending, and

WHEREAS, as inflation and interest rates increase, the Federal Government encounters higher interest rates on borrowed moneys, and

WHEREAS, as the national debt increases, Congress is forced to raise the debt ceiling or risk not being able to pay Federal Government expenditures, resulting in government shutdowns and employee furloughs that threaten national security, and

WHEREAS, 41 states, including Florida, require their state legislatures to pass balanced budgets that ensure fiscal discipline and responsibility, and

WHEREAS, Congress has attempted, unsuccessfully, to introduce and enact legislation requiring its members to pass a Florida Senate - 2023 SM 176 39-00242-23 2023176__ CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. balanced budget, and

WHEREAS, the people of Florida recognized the wisdom of fiscal discipline and enshrined in the State Constitution the requirement for a balanced budget, thereby placing prudent limits on government spending, and

WHEREAS, the Florida Legislature has made fiscally responsible decisions, has maintained a balanced budget, and has saved residents of this state from crippling deficits, massive debt burdens, and bankruptcy, and

WHEREAS, the Florida Legislature calls on members of Congress to enact legislation requiring a balanced budget; to mandate the Federal Government operate with fiscal responsibility, discipline, and common sense; and to operate within the revenues granted to it by the people, and

WHEREAS, in order to ensure the stability of government and business functions at the local, regional, state, and national levels, it is imperative that the Federal Government take action to cut costs, reduce the tax burden on American families and businesses, operate according to principles of fiscal responsibility and discipline, and balance the federal budget, 49

NOW, THEREFORE, 50

Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 52 That the Congress of the United States is urged to take immediate action to begin to reduce the national debt and enact legislation requiring a balanced federal budget. 56 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of State is directed to dispatch copies of this memorial to the President of Florida Senate - 2023 SM 176 39-00242-23 2023176__ CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. the United States, to the President of the United States Senate, 59 to the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, 60 and to each member of the Florida delegation to the Congress of the United States. 62