[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 22 (Friday, February 3, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H1161]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                SUPPORT AN INCREASE IN THE MINIMUM WAGE

  (Mr. KLINK asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. KLINK. Mr. Speaker, today the President of the United States set 
forward a very bold plan that is overdue, and that is to raise the 
minimum wage for workers in this Nation who have steadily seen the 
erosion of their ability to support themselves and their families.
  The actual minimum wage, when adjusted for inflation, has fallen 50 
cents just since 1991, and it is 27 percent less than it was back in 
1979.
  I ask Members on both sides, Mr. Speaker, to support the President in 
this increase in the minimum wage, because it is needed. It is needed 
for people in my district.
  I can remember back when we were trying to push the earned income tax 
credit as a part of President's budget. We got no votes from the other 
side, yet 26,000 families in my area that has been devastated by 
unemployment were affected by that. It helped those families to help 
themselves in this day and age when everybody is talking about welfare 
reform.
  We cannot say that we can make millions of dollars on book deals when 
we are in Congress but we cannot have 45 cents for the American worker. 
We cannot say Members of Congress can go play golf with lobbyists and 
can have free dinners but we cannot have 45 cents for the American 
workers.
  I laud the President, Mr. Speaker, and ask the support of both sides 
of the aisle.


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