[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 7 (Friday, January 12, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E93-E94]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     FAIR MINIMUM WAGE ACT OF 2007

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                    HON. JUANITA MILLENDER-McDONALD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 10, 2007

  Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my 
pleasure that the House has passed H.R. 2, the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 
2007. Nearly nine out of ten Americans believe that it is time to 
increase the minimum wage, and I could not agree more.
  An increase in the minimum wage is long overdue. The minimum wage has 
not been increased in almost 10 years. This is the longest Americans 
have had to wait for an increase in the minimum wage since the original 
law was enacted in 1938.
  While Americans have been waiting for an increase in the minimum 
wage, the cost of most necessities has risen. The fact is, the real 
value of the current minimum wage is the lowest it has been in over 50 
years. Meanwhile, the costs of health care, gasoline and a college 
education are rising, and families in my District are finding it harder 
and harder to make ends meet.
  An increase in the minimum wage will have a particularly beneficial 
impact on women, especially single mothers. The majority of minimum 
wage earners are women and common

[[Page E94]]

sense tells us that a single mother cannot effectively provide for her 
children on $10,000 a year. Because many of these mothers are forced to 
work extra hours or a second job to afford food and rent, their 
children end up spending most of their time without a parent at home to 
raise them.
  If America is indeed the Land of Opportunity, we must reward those 
who pay their dues. A parent working full-time at the current minimum 
wage of $5.15 an hour is likely living below the federal poverty level, 
and is often unable to afford what their children deserve: rent in a 
safe neighborhood, decent child care, and enough food on the table.
  The minimum wage issue is ultimately a question about our fundamental 
values as Americans. Do we value hard work? Do we believe that people 
who work full-time should be able to support themselves? To support 
their families? Isn't it our job to support those who want a hand up, 
and not a hand out?
  I believe the answer to these questions is yes, and I believe that 
most Americans agree with me.
  I am pleased that the House of Representatives, under the leadership 
of Speaker Nancy Pelosi, brought this bill to the Floor during the 
first 100 hours of the 110th Congress. The priorities of working 
Americans are truly the priorities of this House of Representatives.
  I am hopeful that the United States Senate will also make a minimum 
wage hike a priority and pass this bill as soon as possible. I am 
encouraged by the President's recently expressed willingness to 
cooperate with Democrats on this issue. The President's signature 
cannot come soon enough; the bill's initial 70 cent increase does not 
take place until 60 days after H.R. 2 becomes law. Mr. Speaker, nearly 
13 million hard-working Americans have waited long enough.

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