[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 30 (Thursday, March 16, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E331]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE ACT

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                               speech of

                            HON. JACK QUINN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 9, 2000

  Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Martinez/
Traficant amendment to increase the minimum wage by $1.00 over two 
years.
  I have been a proponent of increasing the minimum wage since elected 
to Congress. I feel strongly that we need to give the working poor an 
increase in their wages.
  Our country is in the midst of the longest period of economic growth 
in our history and yet the disparity between rich and poor has never 
been greater. An increase of a dollar over two years is a highly 
effective way in which we can bridge the gap of the economic disparity 
in our country.
  Over time, as the value of purchasing power of the minimum wage has 
been eroded by inflation, it has become impossible to expect workers to 
live a dignified life when they are employed at or below the minimum 
wage. That is why it needs to be raised now and why it needs to be 
raised by a dollar over the next two years. This increase would simply 
catch up the wage to inflation since the last time the minimum was 
raised.
  There are over 12 million people working for or close to the minimum 
wage. Some studies have indicated that of these 12 million Americans 
who earn between $5.15 and $6.15, 15 percent are African-American, 60 
percent are women; and nearly two-fifths are the only earner in their 
families.
  Increasing the minimum wage to $6.15 an hour will not eliminate jobs 
or put people out of work. There is little or no evidence that 
illustrates job loss or the loss of opportunity since the last increase 
in the minimum wage.
  It is imperative that the wage is increased by $1.00 over two years. 
Some have argued that a $1.00 an hour increase over 3 years is suffice 
for the working poor. Unfortunately, a minimum wage of $6.15 an hour 
would not lift a minimum wage earner out of poverty. Therefore, we in 
Congress owe it to the working poor to give them a raise over the 
shortest period of time--2 years.
  A wage increase spread over 3 years would cost a full time minimum 
wage earner $1000. $1,000 may not seem like a lot of money to most 
people here but for minimum wage earners in Buffalo, New York and 
throughout the country that $1,000 a year may mean 6 months of rent 
payments, groceries on the table, or presents under the tree.

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