[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 123 (Wednesday, September 18, 2013)]
[House]
[Page H5599]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE

  (Ms. WILSON of Florida asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute.)
  Ms. WILSON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, we wonder why people need 
nutrition assistance in the first place. Well, it's because our minimum 
wage is inadequate, and it's because the government has given up on 
creating jobs. A parent working full-time at minimum wage will simply 
not earn enough income to cover basic needs.
  SNAP recipients are not lazy. It's this Congress that is lazy.
  Mr. Speaker, if you want to cut $40 billion in nutrition funding, I 
have a two-part plan for you. Raise the minimum wage so workers can 
feed themselves, and pass the American Jobs Act so Americans can find 
work in the first place.
  Mr. Speaker, the working poor, seniors, and children are suffering 
now, and you plan to cut nutrition assistance? Not only will they 
suffer, but some may die.
  It's time for this Congress to address the real issues: raise the 
minimum wage, and jobs, jobs, jobs.

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