[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 55 (Thursday, April 25, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H3827]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             TIME TO VOTE ON A CLEAN MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE

  (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, we have heard this morning, and 
I am glad, that after a year of threatening cuts in education funding, 
I am glad that the Congress and the President yesterday and today will 
consummate it and restore the drastic and extreme education cuts that 
they have been fighting a year over, and I am glad the Republican 
majority saw the light.

                              {time}  1115

  But, really, what I want to talk about today is the minimum wage. 
Americans strongly support an increase in the minimum wage. In fact, 
the latest national poll shows at least 80 percent of Americans support 
an increase in the minimum wage, and yet the majority of the 
Republicans oppose an increase, and some even oppose the minimum wage.
  In fact, yesterday the House Republican leaders decided not to even 
bring up a minimum wage increase for a vote. The only thing we have 
heard of is a measure to provide another Government subsidy for people 
who work at $4.25 an hour. More welfare instead of someone being able 
to work their way off of welfare. That is not what the American people 
want.
  Republicans talk a lot about moving people off of welfare and into 
work, but people need a livable wage to do this. Members can talk the 
talk, but they need to walk the walk. American families are working 
harder than ever, but it is tough to get ahead when working full time 
does not put enough money in your opinion pocket to put food on the 
table.

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