[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 57 (Tuesday, April 30, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H4134]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            WAGES IN AMERICA

  (Mr. FARR of California asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, everybody in America is worried 
about their wages. Here in Congress, the GOP leadership opposes the 
President's initiative to raise the minimum wage from $4.25 to $5.15 to 
begin starting next year.
  The GOP leadership argues that this will have unintended 
consequences, therefore, let us not do it. However, what they failed to 
note is that paying workers more money for work performed will increase 
workers' purchasing power, and that will purchase more goods, more jobs 
will be created. This helps restore purchasing power, reduces turnover 
in the job place, and promotes domestic tranquility.
  I think that is what this country is all about, is about paying 
people for work performed. Paying more to the lowest wage earner in the 
country, the lowest, the lowest, not the middle, not the highest. Are 
there not the same workers we are trying to help with struggling to 
keep their heads above water? Why is it the GOP wants to end welfare 
but does not want to pay those who work for being hard workers?

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