[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 117 (Friday, August 2, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1503-E1504]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     OPPOSES MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ENID GREENE

                                of utah

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, August 2, 1996

  Ms. ENID GREENE of Utah. Mr. Speaker, 2 months ago, I voted against 
the Riggs amendment to increase the minimum wage because I believed it 
will have negative consequences--particularly for those it portends to 
help.
  I remain convinced that, on its own, increasing the minimum wage will 
result in the loss of thousands of entry-level and low-wage jobs, which 
are needed not only by young people but also by those who are seeking 
to reenter the work force.
  Raising the minimum wage is a tax on an employer who is offering 
someone a job. It is not paid by all Americans, but only by those who 
seek to employ others. The natural result is that there will be fewer 
jobs available.
  History shows that raising the minimum wage costs jobs. In fact, 
since 1973, congress has increased the minimum wage nine times. In each 
case, except one, unemployment increased. The one exception was during 
the period 1977-79, when the economy was growing robustly at over 5 
percent annually. We are not now enjoying such growth. While I 
sincerely hope to be proven wrong, I remain concerned that raising the 
minimum wage will cost jobs.
  Nevertheless, I voted for the Small Business Job Protection Act today 
because I believe that the construction of job opportunities for those 
who seek work will be at least partially offset by the tax breaks for 
small business that have been added to the bill in conference. Since it 
is clear that Congress will raise the minimum wage, I voted for this 
conference report, with its added tax relief provisions because I 
believe it encompasses the best means we have of softening the negative 
effects--that is, job loss--of a minimum wage increase during these 
lethargic economic times.
  In addition, Mr. Chairman, I am particularly pleased that this bill 
contains key provisions from the Adoption Promotion and Stability Act 
to assist loving, caring Americans who are willing to open their homes 
and provide permanent, loving and stable homes for adoptive children.
  In a successful adoption, everyone wins--the dearly wanted child, who 
is brought into a loving home; the adoptive parents, who have welcomed 
the child into their lives; and the birth parents, who know that their 
child is well cared for. Unfortunately, there are barriers that reduce 
the number of successful adoptions

[[Page E1504]]

such as adoption fees, court costs, and attorney's fees.
  As a result, one in seven children in foster care is waiting for 
adoption, and will wait for up to 6 years. At a time when adoption 
costs can reach upward of $20,000, providing a $5,000 per eligible 
child deduction to middle and low-income families for qualified 
adoption expenses offers valuable assistance to those who are willing 
to give so much to our most vulnerable children.

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