[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 50 (Thursday, April 18, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H3586]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE IS THE DECENT THING TO DO

  (Mrs. CLAYTON asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. CLAYTON. Mr. Speaker, indeed it is time to raise the minimum 
wage. What is the argument that we hear the Republicans saying as to 
why we should not raise the minimum wage? They say when we do that we 
will reduce the opportunity for jobs; that, in fact, there are not a 
lot of people who are working at minimum wage, only teenagers.
  Mr. Speaker, that is a false premise. In fact, two-thirds of the 
minimum wage earners are families with adults who are trying to support 
a livable income providing decent food, shelter, clothing. That is the 
basis for the minimum wage, a living wage.
  Also, Mr. Speaker, it was said that if we do that, the economy will 
suffer. Why would it suffer? Where will that money go? As soon as the 
money comes in, it will go for food and shelter. It goes right back 
into there. What happened when the minimum wage was raised the last 
time? We did not have great inflation. That did not happen.
  Who are we protecting? We are protecting the rich. That is the issue 
here. Are we equally concerned for those at the bottom of the scale as 
we are concerned about the 5 percent we are willing to give big tax 
breaks?
  The minimum wage is the decent thing to do. It is also the economical 
thing to do. It is the fair thing to do. The American people want a 
minimum wage. We should do that.

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