[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 77 (Thursday, June 15, 2006)]
[House]
[Page H4013]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              HOUSE TO VOTE ON INCREASING THE MINIMUM WAGE

  (Ms. SOLIS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, next week the House will have its first vote 
to increase the minimum wage in over 10 years. This is good news for 
the more than 7 million hardworking Americans who today only make $5.15 
an hour. It could also be good news for millions of middle class 
workers who could see their hourly wage increase as a result of the 
higher minimum wage.
  Despite repeated efforts by the House Democrats to expand economic 
opportunity for millions of Americans over the last 9 years, the House 
Republican leadership has refused to allow the floor vote on increasing 
the minimum wage. Next week they have no choice, however. Thanks to 
action in the House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday, the 
committee voted to gradually increase the minimum wage from $5.15 to 
$7.25.
  The American people should not be surprised that the out-of-touch 
House Republican leadership is also voicing strong opposition to the 
wage hike and vows to kill it next week. This would be shameful, and 
millions of Americans will be affected. They need to have a living 
wage.
  I look forward to the vote next week and hope that the House will 
finally take action in a new direction to expand economic opportunity 
for all.

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