[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 50 (Thursday, April 18, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H3585]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             AMERICANS DESERVE A RAISE IN THE MINIMUM WAGE

  (Ms. McKINNEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. McKINNEY. Mr. Speaker, the 12 million Americans who earn the 
minimum wage aren't the only ones calling for an increase. In fact, 71 
percent of Republican voters also support an increase in the minimum 
wage.
  Moreover, 15 House Republicans are calling for a $1 increase in the 
minimum wage over the next 2 years--that's 10 cents an hour more than 
what even the President is calling for.
  So, Mr. Speaker, why is it that the Republican leadership refuses to 
even allow a debate on the minimum wage? Well, it is because they don't 
even believe that there should be a minimum wage, period. In fact, the 
majority leader is on record as saying that he will oppose a minimum 
wage increase with every fiber of his being. That's strong language 
coming from someone who earns over $100,000 a year.
  Mr. Speaker, America deserves a raise and it is time that we gave it 
to them.

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