[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 15 (Wednesday, January 25, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H599]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


  THE GREATEST INCENTIVE TO WORK IN AMERICA IS THE ABILITY TO EARN A 
                              DECENT WAGE

  (Mr. WYNN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WYNN. Mr. Speaker, I rise this morning to say that the President 
got it right last night. He talked about empowering people, and 
critically he said, ``You've got to pay a decent wage.'' He suggests 
that the greatest incentive to work in America is the ability to earn a 
livable wage.
  Mr. Speaker, I recall commenting about a seamstress who, when told, 
``If you got an increase in the minimum wage, you might lose your 
job,'' told a reporter, ``Look. I'll take my chances with a job. I want 
a better wage.''
  There are young people all throughout my district who say the same 
thing:
  ``Congressman, we want to work, but it's got to pay a decent wage.''
  The President pointed out last night that at the current minimum wage 
level of $4.25 an average American makes $8,840 a year, less than we 
make in 1 month. I think that is very telling because subsequent to his 
speech last night the American people in poll results said by a margin 
of 72 percent that they wanted a livable wage.
  Ladies and gentlemen of America, there is a difference. The President 
has got it right. Let us pay a decent wage.

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