[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 22 (Friday, February 3, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H1166-H1167]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TIME TO RAISE MINIMUM WAGE

  (Mr. STUPAK asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Speaker, now I have heard it all. Now I have heard 
everything. At his press conference today Speaker Gingrich was asked 
about the minimum wage. He was asked if he plans to support a minimum-
wage increase. You know what he said? He said we cannot raise the 
minimum wage. We can't raise it above $4.25. And do you know why? He 
said because of the problems with the Mexican economy. He 
[[Page H1167]] said we can't raise wages here while the wages are going 
down in Mexico.
  Does the Speaker really believe that we should base our pay raises in 
America on what is happening in Mexico? That Mexico should be our 
benchmark for wages? That 58 cents an hour should be our standard? That 
is two quarters, one nickel, and three pennies, held together by a 
bunch of tape. Why does he want to continue to keep the American worker 
down?
  Mr. Speaker, it is time we stand up for working people in this 
country. It is time we reward people for their hard work. It is time we 
raise the minimum wage.


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