[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 58 (Wednesday, May 1, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H4308]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 WELFARE PAYING MORE THAN 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, last week the Houston Chronicle 
ran a story about how welfare pays more than the minimum wage. We hear 
a lot of rhetoric about moving people off welfare and into work, but 
the Republican leadership refuses a simple up or down vote on providing 
a liberal wage.
  Using the current minimum wage, workers putting in their 40 hours a 
week for 52 weeks would earn just over $8,800. A working family 
supported by a minimum wage earner is below the national poverty level 
and is eligible to collect welfare benefits.
  A minimum wage increase will give my constituents and other working 
Americans the ability to move off the welfare rolls, but Republicans 
continue to oppose a minimum wage increase. Instead of bringing this 
issue to a vote, they have proposed yet another Government subsidy for 
businesses. This measure is nothing more than a huge entitlement and 
more public assistance, more welfare, when what we need is a job that 
pays enough to put food on the table.
  The Washington Post said today that the Senate majority leader wants 
to cut the gas tax and raise the minimum wage. Let us do it. I think 
that is a good bill.
  Let us do it, Mr. Speaker. Democrats want working families to work 
their way off welfare. It is time for the Republicans to do the same. 
Support a minimum wage increase.

                          ____________________