[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 20 (Tuesday, February 13, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E163]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      THE WORK FOR REAL WAGES ACT

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                           HON. PATSY T. MINK

                               of hawaii

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 13, 2001

  Mrs. MINK of Hawaii. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce 
legislation that helps correct a portion of the Welfare Reform Law of 
1996.
  Under the 1996 welfare reform law, states were allowed to enact 
workfare programs in which welfare recipients are forced to work off 
their welfare benefit, rather than receive real wages.
  The Work for Real Wages Act requires that welfare recipients who 
perform unpaid work as a condition of receiving welfare benefits be 
credited with wages for the purposes of calculating the Earned Income 
Tax Credit (EITC).
  It is unfair to require unpaid work, yet credit nothing toward Social 
Security, unemployment compensation, and other wage-based benefits 
programs.
  My bill credits the hours worked without direct compensation as 
though minimum wage were paid for the purpose of claiming earned income 
tax credits.
  I urge all Members to cosponsor this legislation.

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