[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 127 (Tuesday, September 22, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S10716]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        SUPPORT WORKING FAMILIES

  Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, in a time of unprecedented economic 
prosperity, we have seen a reduction in inflation and unemployment yet 
a full-time minimum wage earner makes almost $3,000 below the poverty 
level--a mere $10,712 per year. No one who works full time should be 
poor in this country--it's time to raise the minimum wage.
  Republicans say that raising the minimum wage will cause job loss and 
put undue burdens on business owners. But in a recent study conducted 
by Princeton economists David Card and Alan Krueger, their analysis of 
New Jersey's minimum wage increase in 1992 showed that employment in 
fast food restaurants grew at least as quickly as in neighboring 
Pennsylvania where the minimum wage stayed the same. Also noted in the 
study was that higher wages actually benefitted employers--turnover 
expenses were reduced and productivity improved due to better motivated 
and more stable employees. Mr. President, it's time to raise the 
minimum wage.
  Additionally, data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that 
since the 1996-97 wage increases took effect, 4 million new jobs have 
been created and unemployment is at 4.5%--its lowest level in a 
generation. In fact, a study by the Economic Policy Institute documents 
that there was no measurable negative effect on jobs. The only 
measurable effect was on workers--they received the pay increases they 
deserved. Mr. President, it's time to raise the minimum wage.
  Contrary to what has been said by my colleagues on the opposite side 
of the aisle, workers who will benefit from this increase are not 
primarily teenagers from high income families. 70% are adults over the 
age of 20 and forty percent of minimum wage workers are the sole bread 
winners in their families. As a matter of fact, the average minimum 
wage earner brings home half of their family's income. Additionally, 
60% of minimum wage earners are women. Mr. President, it's time to 
raise the minimum wage.
  In 1979, minimum wage earners needed to work an average of 40 hours 
per week to stay out of poverty. Today those same workers must work 52 
hours. By raising the minimum wage one dollar by the year 2000 we will 
restore its purchasing power to its mid-1970's level. With unemployment 
levels 50% to 75% lower and inflation rates 2 to 3 times lower, we can 
afford to restore that purchasing power. Mr. President, it's time to 
raise the minimum wage.
  It is time to honor the American working people with a fair wage. As 
President Franklin D. Roosevelt said, ``Our nation, so richly endowed 
with natural resources and with a capable and industrious population, 
should be able to devise ways and means of insuring to all able-bodied 
working men and women a fair day's pay for a fair day's work.'' I call 
upon my colleagues in the Senate to begin narrowing the gap between 
rich and poor in this country. We must help bring economic prosperity 
to the men and women who feed our families, care for our children and 
elderly parents, and play by the rules. It's time to help working 
families and it's time to raise the minimum wage.

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