Question

1. Consider the past debate underway in Congress with respect to funding the federal government and the political considerations involved in passing social policies through the budgeting process.
   1. Should a social or political decision such as repeal of Obamacare or defunding of Planned Parenthood be a legitimate consideration in establishing fiscal policy in the United States?
   2. Does such a decision justify any potential impact on the US GDP and the overall economy?

Answer 1

About the Congressional Record

The Congressional Record is the official record of the proceedings and debates of the United States Congress. It is published daily when Congress is in session. The Congressional Record began publication in 1873, and is still published today.

Note: Debates for sessions prior to 1873 are recorded in The Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States (1789-1824), the Register of Debates in Congress (1824-1837), and the Congressional Globe (1833-1873). These can be accessed through A Century of Lawmaking For a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates.

The Congressional Record consists of four sections:

• Daily Digest

• House section

• Senate section

• Extension of Remarks

At the back of each daily issue is the "Daily Digest," which summarizes the day's floor and committee activities and serves as a table of contents for each issue. The House and Senate sections contain proceedings for the separate chambers of Congress. Finally, the Extension of Remarks includes tributes, statements, and other information that supplements statements made on the Congressional floor.

Following each session of Congress, the daily Congressional Record is revised, printed, permanently bound, and also made available online.