[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 59 (Thursday, May 2, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S4575]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            THE MINIMUM WAGE

  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, in just a few moments we will return to 
the unfinished business on the illegal immigration legislation. There 
is every prospect that that legislation will be concluded sometime in 
the afternoon. As Members of this body know, we are operating under the 
procedures of cloture, which has foreclosed the opportunity for me and 
for our minority leader, Senator Daschle, or others, to raise the issue 
of the minimum wage, to offer that as an amendment to the underlying 
legislation. I have indicated that I would offer it at the earliest 
moment on any other legislation that comes before the Senate, including 
the possibility we would offer it this afternoon.
  But now we are, under the procedures, foreclosed. During the course 
of the morning, and with the consent agreement and the cloture on the 
underlying bill, we have been effectively foreclosed from any 
opportunity to address that issue. I am hopeful still, sometime during 
the day, we will have the opportunity to begin the debate. I think it 
is an issue that is well understood in the Senate. But we might be able 
to establish a short time period where we would have that debate and 
have a vote by the Members on that issue, which is of central 
importance to working families, families who are working 40 hours a 
week, 52 weeks of the year, trying to make ends meet and are still 
faced with the hard realities that the minimum wage is at the lowest 
purchasing power it has been in 40 years. All Americans basically 
understand we should reward work with sufficient compensation so 
families can provide for themselves, can provide for their children, 
put food on the table, pay the rent and the mortgage.
  This issue is an old issue. It has been debated and discussed each 
time Congress has acted to increase the minimum wage. It is quite 
ironic that this issue was before the U.S. Congress 35 years ago 
tomorrow, that would be in 1961. The issue of the increase in the 
minimum wage in the 1960 campaign was debated extensively during the 
course of that campaign. President Kennedy, in the course of that 
campaign, spoke about the importance of raising the minimum wage. It 
was considerably lower at that period of time. But in the course of the 
campaign then Senator Kennedy sat in front of a camera and said:

       Mr. Nixon has said that a $1.25 minimum wage is extreme. 
     That's $50 a week. What's extreme about that? I believe the 
     next Congress and the President should pass a minimum wage 
     for a $1.25 an hour. Americans must be paid enough to live.

  Really, the rest is history. Senator Kennedy was elected in the fall 
of 1960. One of the earliest messages that he sent to the Congress in 
February the next year was urging Congress to take action. The Congress 
addressed this issue 35 years ago tomorrow.
  On Friday, May 3, which is tomorrow, that will be the 35th 
anniversary of Bob Dole's vote against President Kennedy's legislation 
raising the minimum wage from $1 to $1.25. Bob Dole and Richard Nixon 
were wrong to oppose President Kennedy's minimum wage hike 35 years 
ago--and Bob Dole and Richard Armey are wrong to oppose President 
Clinton's minimum wage hike today.
  This issue is before us. We will have an opportunity to address it. 
Just as the Republican leadership was opposed to moving from $1.25 35 
years ago, we find opposition now to increase the minimum wage to make 
it a livable wage to honor work in our society.
  The overwhelming majority of the people in our society are for it. 
Americans should not be denied it. The illegal immigration bill is 
important, but we have a responsibility to meet the needs of those 
Americans who are out there working on the bottom and next to bottom 
rung of the economic ladder trying to provide for themselves and 
working hard at it.
  Mr. President, we will continue the battle to increase the minimum 
wage, and I do not believe for a moment that we will be defeated. This 
is an issue whose time has come again and again and again. It came in 
early 1961. I believe it will come again in 1996.
  We have to ask why it has taken us so long, but we will continue to 
persevere today and every opportunity to have the Senate address and 
vote in favor of the minimum wage. The American people need it; they 
are entitled to it. And we will continue that struggle.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.
  Mr. DOLE. Was leaders' time reserved, I ask the Chair?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Yes, it was. Leaders' time was reserved. The 
Chair recognizes the majority leader.

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