As one of several advisors to the secretary of the U.S. 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 need constant reissue. On the other hand, the economy shows 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 course of action do you recommend to the secretary of the U.S. Treasury?