HON. RON PAUL
OF TEXAS
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
2009 Ron Paul 14:1
Mr. PAUL. Madam Speaker, I rise to introduce
legislation to restore financial stability to
Americas economy by abolishing the Federal
Reserve. Since the creation of the Federal Reserve,
middle and working-class Americans
have been victimized by a boom-and-bust
monetary policy. In addition, most Americans
have suffered a steadily eroding purchasing
power because of the Federal Reserves inflationary
policies. This represents a real, if hidden,
tax imposed on the American people.
2009 Ron Paul 14:2
From the Great Depression, to the stagflation
of the seventies, to the current economic
crisis caused by the housing bubble, every
economic downturn suffered by this country
over the past century can be traced to Federal
Reserve policy. The Fed has followed a consistent
policy of flooding the economy with
easy money, leading to a misallocation of resources
and an artificial boom followed by a
recession or depression when the Fed-created
bubble bursts.
2009 Ron Paul 14:3
With a stable currency, American exporters
will no longer be held hostage to an erratic
monetary policy. Stabilizing the currency will
also give Americans new incentives to save as
they will no longer have to fear inflation eroding
their savings. Those members concerned
about increasing Americas exports or the low
rate of savings should be enthusiastic supporters
of this legislation.
2009 Ron Paul 14:4
Though the Federal Reserve policy harms
the average American, it benefits those in a
position to take advantage of the cycles in
monetary policy. The main beneficiaries are
those who receive access to artificially inflated
money and/or credit before the inflationary effects
of the policy impact the entire economy.
Federal Reserve policies also benefit big
spending politicians who use the inflated currency
created by the Fed to hide the true
costs of the welfare-warfare state. It is time for
Congress to put the interests of the American
people ahead of special interests and their
own appetite for big government.
2009 Ron Paul 14:5
Abolishing the Federal Reserve will allow
Congress to reassert its constitutional authority
over monetary policy. The United States
Constitution grants to Congress the authority
to coin money and regulate the value of the
currency. The Constitution does not give Congress
the authority to delegate control over
monetary policy to a central bank. Furthermore,
the Constitution certainly does not empower
the federal government to erode the
American standard of living via an inflationary
monetary policy.
2009 Ron Paul 14:6
In fact, Congress constitutional mandate regarding
monetary policy should only permit
currency backed by stable commodities such
as silver and gold to be used as legal tender.
Therefore, abolishing the Federal Reserve and
returning to a constitutional system will enable
America to return to the type of monetary system
envisioned by our nations founders: one
where the value of money is consistent because
it is tied to a commodity such as gold.
Such a monetary system is the basis of a true
free-market economy.
2009 Ron Paul 14:7
In conclusion, Madam Speaker, I urge my
colleagues to stand up for working Americans
by putting an end to the manipulation of the
money supply which erodes Americans standard
of living, enlarges big government, and enriches
well-connected elites, by cosponsoring
my legislation to abolish the Federal Reserve.