[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 26 (Thursday, February 9, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H1472]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                SUPPORT THE INCREASE IN THE MINIMUM WAGE

  (Mr. FAZIO of California asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute.)
  Mr. FAZIO of California. Mr. Speaker, yesterday marked the fifth year 
in a row that the productivity of the American worker has increased. 
But despite this good news, most American workers have had no real 
increase in earnings in over 15 years.
  In the last Congress, we gave a tax cut the help those Americans who 
were working hard but failing behind. Now, President Clinton has 
endorsed a small increase in the minimum wage to reward Americans who 
choose work, not welfare.
  At the current minimum wage--just $4.25 an hour--someone working day-
in and day-out would bring home just $8,500 a year. A family of four 
trying to live on this wage--just $700 a month--would find it nearly 
impossible to pay the rent, buy groceries, or purchase clothes for 
school. If the minimum wage is increased by just 90 cents over 2 
years--we can provide working Americans with additional rewards for 
their work.
  And while we are at it, let's arbitrate an end to the baseball 
strike. Democrats are worried about minimum wage workers selling 
peanuts in the bleachers--not about multi-millionaire ball-players and 
owners who can afford to sit out another season.

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