As one of several advisors to the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, you have been asked to submit a memo in connection with the average maturity of the obligations of the federal government. The basic premise is that the average maturity is far too short. As a result, issues of debt are coming due with great frequency and needing constant reissue. On the other hand, the economy is presently showing signs of weakness. It is considered unwise to issue long-term obligations and absorb investment funds that might otherwise be invested in employment-producing construction and other private sector support. Based on these conditions, what do you recommend as a course of action to the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury?