[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 73 (Wednesday, May 22, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H5384]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  GOODLING AMENDMENT PROVIDES OPPORTUNITY WAGE FOR LOW-SKILLED ENTRY-
                             LEVEL WORKERS

  (Mr. GANSKE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GANSKE. Mr. Speaker, we are going to get our first vote on 
raising the minimum wage today. I am going to vote for it.
  I have been concerned that legislation with good motives can have 
adverse consequences, so I urge my colleagues on both sides of the 
aisle to vote for the Goodling amendment. It takes into consideration 
some specific things that we ought to look at.
  Computer experts should not be paid 6.5 times more and then get a 
raise in their minimum wage. Restaurant workers do get tips. It takes 
into account that. But I and other people have been concerned about the 
loss of jobs for low-skilled workers, so, at my suggestion and others', 
the leadership has included in the Goodling amendment an opportunity 
wage.
  The opportunity wage will encourage hiring of low-skilled entry-level 
workers by firms while maintaining the protections of the current 
minimum wage for a short period of time. This amendment is geared to 
blunt the impact of projected increases on low-skilled workers. The 
Goodling amendment is a good one. I urge my colleagues to vote for it.

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