[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 48 (Tuesday, April 16, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H3398]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      CALL FOR A MINIMUM WAGE BILL

  (Mr. VOLKMER asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. VOLKMER. Mr. Speaker, yesterday this House spent several hours on 
legislation everybody knew that was not going to go anywhere, was not 
going to pass and even if it did, it would not have any effect on 
anybody in this country for years to come because it would have to be 
ratified by the States.
  But we Democrats are asking the leadership of the Republicans, 
Speaker Gingrich and the radical Republicans, to bring forward 
legislation that will help millions of people in this country now, and 
that is an increase in the minimum wage. The minimum wage today is the 
buying power of what it was 40 years ago. Many people out in my 
district work for the minimum wage. They need an increase in the 
minimum wage.
  I ask the Speaker and his radical Republicans, let us bring forth a 
minimum wage bill that will be helpful to the people of this country. 
Let us not continue to work on legislation that will have no effect and 
will not help anybody. Let us do a minimum wage bill.

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