[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 86 (Wednesday, June 28, 2006)]
[House]
[Page H4685]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE

  (Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express support 
for an increase in the minimum wage.
  We should show the Nation that we understand it has been too long 
since we increased the minimum wage. We should be ashamed it takes a 
full day's pay at minimum wage to fill up your car at the pump.
  Congress has not raised the $5.15 minimum wage since 1997. We are 
approaching a decade since we have addressed perhaps the most important 
issue for hardworking, low-income Americans.
  This Congress has given billions of dollars in tax cuts to the 
wealthiest Americans, and we should help people who are working to make 
ends meet.


                             Point of Order

  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I know it has gotten to be a 
habit. I would like to raise a point of order that a lot of Members 
from the Republican side seem to come up and stand at the podium when 
we are speaking, and I would hope we would not do that.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman is correct. Members should not 
traffic the well while another Member is under recognition.
  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, this Congress has given 
billions of dollars in tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans. We should 
help people who are working to make ends meet.
  Under this administration, costs for everything are up. Housing, 
health care and college tuition have all become more expensive and 
continue to rise. Yet a minimum wage earner can at best earn $10,700 a 
year.
  I look forward to voting on a minimum wage increase in the near 
future, and I hope our leadership has the courage to bring this 
important issue to the floor. Let's increase the minimum wage now.

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