The U.S. Senate on Thursday passed legislation to raise the national debt limit into 2025 following the bill's approval in the House a day prior. Both of Alabama's U.S. senators, Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) and Katie Britt (R-Montgomery), voted against the bill, which now heads to President Joe Biden's desk for his signature.
"The United States currently has a national debt of nearly $32 trillion, and it is rapidly rising with each passing minute," Britt said in a statement following the vote. "It's clear that if we don't change our dire financial trajectory, it will make the American Dream unattainable for our children and our children's children."
During Senate debate on the bill, Britt said Democrats voted down several amendments she offered "to improve the legislation in a fiscally responsible manner."
"This issue is not only a question of our country's economic security but our moral obligations to future generations," she continued. "Decisive action and tough decisions are needed to finally get control of wasteful government spending and put America's fiscal house in order. While I appreciate the diligence of Speaker McCarthy in attempting to make the best out of the crisis scenario caused by months of President Biden refusing to even have a conversation about this issue, we must do more."
Tuberville heavily criticized the "compromise" bill before the House vote calling it a "bad, bad deal."
"This bill does not go nearly far enough to reform our broken budget," Tuberville said Thursday during a press call. "Default would be a disaster. I agree with that. We have to raise the debt ceiling, but we have to lower our spending at the same time… We're almost $32 trillion in debt because of years of runaway spending… To get inflation under control and our economy back on track, we need serious reform. Now is not the time for kicking the can down the road; now is the time to bring sanity back to Washington D.C. and live within our means."
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email daniel.taylor@1819news.com.
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