[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 108 (Wednesday, September 6, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1636]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 REPORT ON RESOLUTION PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 5970, ESTATE 
    TAX AND EXTENSION OF TAX RELIEF ACT OF 2006 AND H.R. 4, PENSION 
                         PROTECTION ACT OF 2006

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                               speech of

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 28, 2006

  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, tonight we should have had an opportunity to 
help lift 6.6 million Americans out of poverty by passing the first 
minimum wage increase in nearly a decade.
  As it is, it's an absolute disgrace that the minimum wage has been 
stagnant at $5.15 since 1997.
  Republican inaction has led to the fact that the minimum wage is at 
its lowest level in 50 years. In fact, if the minimum wage had just 
kept up with inflation since 1968, it would have been $8.88 in 2005. 
That is still, quite frankly, a pittance for what people need to live.
  But this increase is in jeopardy by a cynical, political ploy on the 
part of the House Republican leadership.
  Mr. Speaker, this sham minimum wage legislation contains ``poison 
pills.'' Namely, the incorporation of the estate tax cut and further 
tax cut extensions into the minimum wage bill.
  Even worse, under this sham Republican legislation 1.8 million 
workers will have to wait until June 2009 before the minimum wage 
reaches $7.25.
  Once again, the Republican majority is proving how much contempt they 
have for the working families of America.
  Mr. Speaker, Congress should be voting on a clean minimum wage bill 
that will provide a meaningful increase to working Americans. Its only 
fair.

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