[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 22 (Friday, February 3, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E268]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                     HONEST WORK EQUALS JUST REWARD

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                         HON. EARL F. HILLIARD

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, February 3, 1995
  Mr. HILLIARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address the issue of 
welfare, specifically, reforming our welfare system. How can we, as a 
Congress, and as a society, make welfare reform work?
  I'll tell you how--by paying people a livable wage. Individuals must 
be able to earn a decent wage for a day's work. We have to pay our 
workers enough to live on, enough to keep themselves and their families 
above the poverty level.
  Current discussion of welfare reform would require recipients to find 
gainful employment. Gainful employment should at least be a viable 
alternative, providing adequate compensation for workers and their 
families. The only way to achieve this is to increase minimum wage 
levels. If wages had kept up with inflation after 1970, the current 
rate would have risen to $5.54.
  I am urging that we immediately raise the minimum wage to $5.50, and 
index it for inflation, in order to avoid this injustice in the future. 
We must protect the interest of America's working class by offering 
fair compensation for honest work. This is the way we take people off 
of welfare. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.


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