[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 50 (Thursday, April 18, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H3584]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TIME TO RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE

  (Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, you just heard it and the 
American people heard it. The Republicans are talking a lot about 
working families, but it is time that they did more than just talk 
about it. It is time they decided to actually raise the minimum wage.
  Seventy percent of Americans believe that the minimum wage must be 
increased. Now at least 20 Republicans are backing the increase in the 
minimum wage. It is time, Mr. Speaker, that we bring this to a vote.
  Yesterday the Democrats on our Committee on Economic and Educational 
Opportunities asked our chairman of the committee to hold hearings on 
the minimum wage. Democrats understand that the purchasing power of the 
minimum wage will soon be the lowest it has been in 40 years.
  American families are working hard to get ahead, but it is tough to 
get by when working full-time does not even pay to get off welfare. An 
increase of $0.90 means an additional $1,800 a year in the pockets of 
full-time workers.
  Republicans have an opportunity to join us in helping America's 
working families. It is time to pass the minimum wage increase 
bipartisanly.

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