[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 39 (Tuesday, March 11, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E421]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        HELP MORE FULL-TIME WORKERS BRING HOME A DECENT PAYCHECK

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                         HON. LUIS V. GUTIERREZ

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 11, 2003

  Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing the ``Federal 
Living Wage Responsibility Act of 2003,'' legislation to mandate a 
livable wage for employees under Federal contracts and subcontracts. 
Forty-eight representatives currently cosponsor this important 
legislation.
  Nearly a third of the members of the U.S. labor force work full-time, 
year-round and still do not earn enough to sustain a family above the 
poverty threshold of $18,400 per year for a family of four. Employees 
who work hard at full-time jobs should be paid a wage that assures they 
will not live in poverty.
  To address this problem, this Act requires that:
  Employees of Federal contracts or subcontracts of more than $10,000 
be paid the greater of $8.85 per hour or the hourly wage necessary to 
reach the poverty level.
  Individuals hired by the United States government also receive a 
living wage, helping thousands of more workers to stay above the 
poverty level.
  Employees of Federal contracts or subcontracts and individuals hired 
by the United States government receive benefits such as medical or 
hospital care, vacation and holiday pay, disability and sickness 
insurance, life insurance and pensions.
  Although Congress passed laws such as the Davis-Bacon Act and the 
Service Contract Act to help ensure that employees of Federal 
contractors earn a decent wage, thousands of federal workers and 
federally-contracted workers still do not earn enough to support 
themselves or their families.
  This legislation will allow hard-working Americans to earn quality 
wages and to increase their savings for such essential needs as their 
retirement and their children's education. We believe the Federal 
government must take responsible, workable steps to reward working 
Americans and to help keep them out of poverty. This bill represents a 
practical step toward that goal.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important 
legislation.

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