[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 116 (Thursday, August 1, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H9709-H9710]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TESTING SINCERITY ON WELFARE REFORM

  (Mr. DURBIN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. Speaker, yesterday was a historic day. The passage of 
welfare reform is long overdue. If we listen to the speeches on this 
floor, we heard Member after Member stand up and say we need to put 
people to work. The first test of sincerity on those speeches will come 
today or tomorrow on the question of whether we raise the minimum wage 
in America.
  Think about how many millions of Americans are struggling today at a 
minimum wage job trying to stay off welfare. The Republican leadership, 
Mr. Gingrich and Mr. Dole, have both resisted our efforts to raise the 
minimum wage so people who are doing the personally responsible thing 
for their

[[Page H9710]]

families will receive a decent wage. Those coming off welfare because 
of reform need to have an opportunity to move to a job where they can 
make a living.
  The first test of sincerity on the welfare reform bill is whether we 
will leave this week defying the Republican leadership, Mr. Dole and 
Mr. Gingrich, and increase the minimum wage. If we fail to do that, the 
critics can just say that this welfare reform debate was political hot 
air.

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