[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 23 (Monday, February 6, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H1221]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                              {time}  1430
            RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE WILL HELP MAKE WORK PAY

  (Mr. RICHARDSON asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I received a letter last week from 
Harvey Nehring, who lives in Farmington, NM. Harvey cannot understand 
how anybody could even think of opposing a raise in the minimum wage.
  Harvey stated that people who oppose an increase in the minimum wage 
do not realize that it costs the working poor $40 an hour to get their 
car repaired and $60 an hour to fix their plumbing. The working poor 
have no health insurance, no retirement benefits. They receive no gifts 
from lobbyists, and do not receive frequent flyer miles. In Harvey's 
words, the working poor are simply honest Americans who work hard to 
keep this country going.
  Mr. Speaker, raising the minimum wage is a bipartisan issue. In 1989, 
the vote on increasing the minimum wage was 382 to 37 in the House. It 
was proposed by then President Bush. Mr. Speaker, we should all agree 
that in order to get people off welfare, we need to give them a salary 
that will help their ends meet.
  Mr. Speaker, I agree with Harvey. Let us raise the minimum wage.
  

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