[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 26 (Thursday, March 9, 2000)]
[House]
[Page H761]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            THERE SHOULD BE AN INCREASE IN THE MINIMUM WAGE

  (Mr. BACA asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak on behalf of working 
families across America. I am speaking in behalf of a $1.00 increase of 
the minimum wage over the next 2 years and opposing the passage of tax 
provisions of the Republicans' H.R. 3081.
  The minimum wage proposal would benefit 11.8 million families and 
allow some comfort and economic dignity. Forty percent of minimum-wage 
working families are the sole bread winners in their families.
  Raising the minimum wage would not cost additional jobs. It is our 
responsibility to allow everyone, I state everyone, a chance in America 
to have that dream, that opportunity, to enjoy life, an opportunity of 
quality of life by earning wages that are so important to a lot of us.
  Raising the minimum wage, increasing it from $5.15 an hour, is our 
responsibility. We have the responsibility to assure that people can 
afford a decent living. We have individuals who cannot afford to pay 
for food to put on the table. We have the responsibility to make sure 
that America enjoys life a lot better. Let us increase the minimum 
wage.

                          ____________________