[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 101 (Wednesday, July 10, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H7164-H7165]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     REPUBLICANS PUT FAMILIES LAST

  (Mr. OWENS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. OWENS. Mr. Speaker, Democrats are insisting that we put families 
first. Republicans are insisting that we put families last. Republicans 
have continued their attack on American families, but now with a 
double-barreled shotgun. They are attacking minimum wage again. The 
Senate is threatening to derail the passage of minimum-wage increase. 
They have loaded up the bill with poison pills to guarantee that it 
will not be signed by the President.

[[Page H7165]]

  The Senate passed a bill yesterday, but it is a hoax. It will not 
lead to a minimum wage increase in America.
  On the other hand, education is being attacked again by the 
Republicans. The education cuts we fought so hard against last fall, 
and the American people made it quite clear that they do not want cuts 
in education, again we have millions of dollars being cut in education 
by this Republican House majority. We do not need to attack families 
with a double-barreled shotgun. Do not go after them with education 
cuts and at the same time go after them with minimum wage cuts.
  Nobody can live on $8,400 a year for minimum wage, and our students 
cannot meet the challenges of this high-tech economy unless they have 
every possible opportunity to get an education. Let us support American 
families. Put families first.

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