dr. joel capran described this in the testimony weeks ago. he stated the number one problem that small businesses say they have to deal with right now is lack of demand. they do not say access to capital. they do not say the burden of regulation. they say their order books are thin. that's what we hear in every corner. the chairman of the federal reserve has told us that. the head of the cbo has told us that. that is why companies are not hiring as fast as they do. they have record profits levels and $2 trillion sitting on their balance sheets. but we do need to address the second problem of rising debt and this is where i agree with our colleagues on both sides who made thaa we should not wait to respond. but not by imposing fiscal austerity right now, but by adopting a plan that phases in fiscal discipline as the economy strengthens. we really need an economic first, we need short-term strengthening of demand by investments and infrastructure. that would put people to work and make america more competitive. second and simultaneously, we sho