[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 121 (Thursday, July 18, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H7095-H7128]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           RAISE THE WAGE ACT

  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 492, 
I call up the bill (H.R. 582) to provide for increases in the Federal 
minimum wage, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate 
consideration.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 492, the 
amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on 
Education and Labor, printed in the bill, modified by the amendment 
printed in part A of House Report 116-155, is adopted, and the bill, as 
amended, is considered read.
  The text of the bill, as amended, is as follows:

                                H.R. 582

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Raise the Wage Act''.

     SEC. 2. MINIMUM WAGE INCREASES.

       (a) In General.--Section 6(a)(1) of the Fair Labor 
     Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 206(a)(1)) is amended to 
     read as follows:
       ``(1) except as otherwise provided in this section, not 
     less than--
       ``(A) $8.40 an hour, beginning on the effective date under 
     section 7 of the Raise the Wage Act;
       ``(B) $9.50 an hour, beginning 1 year after such effective 
     date;
       ``(C) $10.60 an hour, beginning 2 years after such 
     effective date;
       ``(D) $11.70 an hour, beginning 3 years after such 
     effective date;
       ``(E) $12.80 an hour, beginning 4 years after such 
     effective date;
       ``(F) $13.90 an hour, beginning 5 years after such 
     effective date;
       ``(G) $15.00 an hour, beginning 6 years after such 
     effective date; and
       ``(H) beginning on the date that is 7 years after such 
     effective date, and annually thereafter, the amount 
     determined by the Secretary under subsection (h);'',
       (b) Determination Based on Increase in the Median Hourly 
     Wage of All Employees.--Section 6 of the Fair Labor Standards 
     Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 206) is amended by adding at the end 
     the following:
       ``(h)(1) Not later than each date that is 90 days before a 
     new minimum wage determined under subsection (a)(1)(H) is to 
     take effect, the Secretary shall determine the minimum wage 
     to be in effect under this subsection for each period 
     described in subsection (a)(1)(H). The wage determined under 
     this subsection for a year shall be--
       ``(A) not less than the amount in effect under subsection 
     (a)(1) on the date of such determination;
       ``(B) increased from such amount by the annual percentage 
     increase, if any, in the median hourly wage of all employees 
     as determined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics; and
       ``(C) rounded up to the nearest multiple of $0.05.
       ``(2) In calculating the annual percentage increase in the 
     median hourly wage of all employees for purposes of paragraph 
     (1)(B), the Secretary, through the Bureau of Labor 
     Statistics, shall compile data on the hourly wages of all 
     employees to determine such a median hourly wage and compare 
     such median hourly wage for the most recent year for which 
     data are available with the median hourly wage determined for 
     the preceding year.''.

     SEC. 3. TIPPED EMPLOYEES.

       (a) Base Minimum Wage for Tipped Employees and Tips 
     Retained by Employees.--Section 3(m)(2)(A)(i) of the Fair 
     Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 203(m)(2)(A)(i)) is 
     amended to read as follows:
       ``(i) the cash wage paid such employee, which for purposes 
     of such determination shall be not less than--
       ``(I) for the 1-year period beginning on the effective date 
     under section 7 of the Raise the Wage Act, $3.60 an hour;
       ``(II) for each succeeding 1-year period until the hourly 
     wage under this clause equals the wage in effect under 
     section 6(a)(1) for such period, an hourly wage equal to the 
     amount determined under this clause for the preceding year, 
     increased by the lesser of--
       ``(aa) $1.50; or
       ``(bb) the amount necessary for the wage in effect under 
     this clause to equal the wage in effect under section 6(a)(1) 
     for such period, rounded up to the nearest multiple of $0.05; 
     and
       ``(III) for each succeeding 1-year period after the 
     increase made pursuant to subclause (II), the minimum wage in 
     effect under section 6(a)(1); and''.
       (b) Tips Retained by Employees.--Section 3(m)(2)(A) of the 
     Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 203(m)(2)(A)) is 
     amended--
       (1) in the second sentence of the matter following clause 
     (ii), by striking ``of this subsection, and all tips received 
     by such employee have been retained by the employee'' and 
     inserting ``of this subsection. Any employee shall have the 
     right to retain any tips received by such employee''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following: ``An employer shall 
     inform each employee of the right and exception provided 
     under the preceding sentence.''.
       (c) Scheduled Repeal of Separate Minimum Wage for Tipped 
     Employees.--
       (1) Tipped employees.--Section 3(m)(2)(A) of the Fair Labor 
     Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 203(m)(2)(A)), as amended by 
     subsections (a) and (b), is further amended by striking the 
     sentence beginning with ``In determining the wage an employer 
     is required to pay a tipped employee,'' and all that follows 
     through ``of this subsection.'' and inserting ``The wage 
     required to be paid to a tipped employee shall be the wage 
     set forth in section 6(a)(1).''.
       (2) Publication of notice.--Subsection (i) of section 6 of 
     the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 206), as 
     amended by section 5, is further amended by striking ``or in 
     accordance

[[Page H7096]]

     with subclause (II) or (III) of section 3(m)(2)(A)(i)''.
       (3) Effective date.--The amendments made by paragraphs (1) 
     and (2) shall take effect on the date that is one day after 
     the date on which the hourly wage under subclause (III) of 
     section 3(m)(2)(A)(i) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 
     (29 U.S.C. 203(m)(2)(A)(i)), as amended by subsection (a), 
     takes effect.

     SEC. 4. NEWLY HIRED EMPLOYEES WHO ARE LESS THAN 20 YEARS OLD.

       (a) Base Minimum Wage for Newly Hired Employees Who Are 
     Less Than 20 Years Old.--Section 6(g)(1) of the Fair Labor 
     Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 206(g)(1)) is amended by 
     striking ``a wage which is not less than $4.25 an hour.'' and 
     inserting the following: ``a wage at a rate that is not less 
     than--
       ``(A) for the 1-year period beginning on the effective date 
     under section 7 of the Raise the Wage Act, $5.50 an hour;
       ``(B) for each succeeding 1-year period until the hourly 
     wage under this paragraph equals the wage in effect under 
     section 6(a)(1) for such period, an hourly wage equal to the 
     amount determined under this paragraph for the preceding 
     year, increased by the lesser of--
       ``(i) $1.25; or
       ``(ii) the amount necessary for the wage in effect under 
     this paragraph to equal the wage in effect under section 
     6(a)(1) for such period, rounded up to the nearest multiple 
     of $0.05; and
       ``(C) for each succeeding 1-year period after the increase 
     made pursuant to subparagraph (B)(ii), the minimum wage in 
     effect under section 6(a)(1).''.
       (b) Scheduled Repeal of Separate Minimum Wage for Newly 
     Hired Employees Who Are Less Than 20 Years Old.--
       (1) In general.--Section 6(g) of the Fair Labor Standards 
     Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 206(g)), as amended by subsection (a), 
     shall be repealed.
       (2) Publication of notice.--Subsection (i) of section 6 of 
     the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 206), as 
     amended by section 3(c)(2), is further amended by striking 
     ``or subparagraph (B) or (C) of subsection (g)(1),''.
       (3) Effective date.--The repeal and amendment made by 
     paragraphs (1) and (2), respectively, shall take effect on 
     the date that is one day after the date on which the hourly 
     wage under subparagraph (C) of section 6(g)(1) of the Fair 
     Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 206(g)(1)), as amended 
     by subsection (a), takes effect.

     SEC. 5. PUBLICATION OF NOTICE.

       Section 6 of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 
     U.S.C. 206), as amended by the preceding sections, is further 
     amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(i) Not later than 60 days prior to the effective date of 
     any increase in the required wage determined under subsection 
     (a)(1) or subparagraph (B) or (C) of subsection (g)(1), or in 
     accordance with subclause (II) or (III) of section 
     3(m)(2)(A)(i) or section 14(c)(1)(A), the Secretary shall 
     publish in the Federal Register and on the website of the 
     Department of Labor a notice announcing each increase in such 
     required wage.''.

     SEC. 6. PROMOTING ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY FOR INDIVIDUALS 
                   WITH DISABILITIES.

       (a) Wages.--
       (1) Transition to fair wages for individuals with 
     disabilities.--Subparagraph (A) of section 14(c)(1) of the 
     Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 214(c)(1)) is 
     amended to read as follows:
       ``(A) at a rate that equals, or exceeds, for each year, the 
     greater of--
       ``(i)(I) $4.25 an hour, beginning 1 year after the date the 
     wage rate specified in section 6(a)(1)(A) takes effect;
       ``(II) $6.40 an hour, beginning 2 years after such date;
       ``(III) $8.55 an hour, beginning 3 years after such date;
       ``(IV) $10.70 an hour, beginning 4 years after such date;
       ``(V) $12.85 an hour, beginning 5 years after such date; 
     and
       ``(VI) the wage rate in effect under section 6(a)(1), on 
     the date that is 6 years after the date the wage specified in 
     section 6(a)(1)(A) takes effect; or
       ``(ii) if applicable, the wage rate in effect on the day 
     before the date of enactment of the Raise the Wage Act for 
     the employment, under a special certificate issued under this 
     paragraph, of the individual for whom the wage rate is being 
     determined under this subparagraph,''.
       (2) Prohibition on new special certificates; sunset.--
     Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 
     U.S.C. 214(c)) (as amended by paragraph (1)) is further 
     amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(6) Prohibition on new special certificates.--
     Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the Secretary shall not issue 
     a special certificate under this subsection to an employer 
     that was not issued a special certificate under this 
     subsection before the date of enactment of the Raise the Wage 
     Act.
       ``(7) Sunset.--Beginning on the day after the date on which 
     the wage rate described in paragraph (1)(A)(i)(VI) takes 
     effect, the authority to issue special certificates under 
     paragraph (1) shall expire, and no special certificates 
     issued under paragraph (1) shall have any legal effect.
       ``(8) Transition assistance.--Upon request, the Secretary 
     shall provide--
       ``(A) technical assistance and information to employers 
     issued a special certificate under this subsection for the 
     purposes of--
       ``(i) transitioning the practices of such employers to 
     comply with this subsection, as amended by the Raise the Wage 
     Act; and
       ``(ii) ensuring continuing employment opportunities for 
     individuals with disabilities receiving a special minimum 
     wage rate under this subsection; and
       ``(B) information to individuals employed at a special 
     minimum wage rate under this subsection, which may include 
     referrals to Federal or State entities with expertise in 
     competitive integrated employment.''.
       (3) Effective date.--The amendments made by this subsection 
     shall take effect on the date of enactment of this Act.
       (b) Publication of Notice.--
       (1) Amendment.--Subsection (i) of section 6 of the Fair 
     Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 206), as amended by 
     section 4(b)(2), is further amended by striking ``or section 
     14(c)(1)(A),''.
       (2) Effective date.--The amendment made by paragraph (1) 
     shall take effect on the day after the date on which the wage 
     rate described in paragraph (1)(A)(i)(VI) of section 14(c) of 
     the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 214(c)), as 
     amended by subsection (a)(1), takes effect.

     SEC. 7. GENERAL EFFECTIVE DATE.

       Except as otherwise provided in this Act or the amendments 
     made by this Act, this Act and the amendments made by this 
     Act shall take effect--
       (1) subject to paragraph (2), on the first day of the third 
     month that begins after the date of enactment of this Act; 
     and
       (2) with respect to the Commonwealth of the Northern 
     Mariana Islands, on the date that is 18 months after the 
     effective date described in paragraph (1).

     SEC. 8. GAO REPORT.

       Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this 
     Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to the Education 
     and Labor Committee of the House of Representatives and the 
     Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the 
     Senate a report that, with respect to the Commonwealth of the 
     Northern Mariana Islands--
       (1) assesses the status and structure of the economy 
     (including employment, earnings and wages, and key 
     industries); and
       (2) for each year in which a wage increase will take effect 
     under subsection (a)(1) or (g)(1) of section 6, section 
     3(m)(2)(A)(i), or section 14(c)(1)(A) of the Fair Labor 
     Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 201 et seq.), as amended by 
     this Act, estimates the proportion of employees who will be 
     directly affected by each such wage increase taking effect 
     for such year, disaggregated by industry and occupation.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The bill, as amended, shall be debatable for 
1 hour, equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking 
minority member of the Committee on Education and Labor.
  After 1 hour of debate, it shall be in order to consider the further 
amendment printed in part B of House Report 116-155, if offered by the 
Member designated in the report, which shall be considered read, shall 
be separately debatable for the time specified in the report equally 
divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent, and shall not 
be subject to a demand for a division of the question.
  The gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott) and the gentlewoman from 
North Carolina (Ms. Foxx) each will control 30 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Virginia.


                             General Leave

  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their 
remarks on the bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Virginia?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the idea behind the Federal minimum wage is simple: 
Hardworking Americans should be paid at least enough to provide for 
themselves and their families.
  After more than a decade with no increase in the minimum wage, the 
longest stretch since the minimum wage was established in 1938, it is 
no longer serving that purpose.
  Today, the Federal minimum wage is a poverty wage in every region of 
our Nation. Our Nation's workers deserve better.
  The Raise the Wage Act, H.R. 582, gradually increases the Federal 
minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2025. After 2025, this legislation 
indexes future increases to the minimum wage to increases in the median 
wage so that the value does not erode over time. It gradually phases 
out the subminimum wages to ensure that tipped workers, youth workers, 
and workers with disabilities are paid at least the full Federal 
minimum wage.
  The benefits of this legislation are significant and widespread. 
Economic analysis estimates that the Raise the Wage Act would increase 
wages for up to 33 million workers and lift 1.3 million Americans out 
of poverty.
  The Raise the Wage Act is not just good for workers. It is good for 
the economy.

[[Page H7097]]

  While the Republican tax bill gave the largest benefits to 
corporations and the wealthy, this bill puts money directly into the 
hands of workers, who will spend that money in their communities.
  Today is a historic day. For the first time in more than 12 years, 
the House is voting to restore the value of the Federal minimum wage 
and restore the value of work in America.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to support the Raise the Wage 
Act, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as 
I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in complete opposition to H.R. 582, a radical, 
risky, and unnecessary bill that puts party politics above the best 
interests of American workers and their families.
  Increasing the Federal minimum wage by 107 percent is a harmful and 
unprecedented mandate that would result in millions of job losses for 
vulnerable Americans, small business closures, and significant damage 
to the U.S. economy.
  A detailed study issued this month by the nonpartisan Congressional 
Budget Office, CBO, estimates a $15 minimum wage would cause up to 3.7 
million lost jobs--3.7 million jobs. One job lost is too many; 3.7 
million jobs lost is unconscionable.
  Those hurt the most by this bill would be female workers, young 
workers, and those with less than a high school diploma.
  In our committee earlier this year, we heard testimony from Ms. 
Simone Barron, a restaurant worker from Seattle, Washington, where the 
minimum wage has already been raised to $15 per hour. Simone said that, 
after the city of Seattle raised the minimum wage, her employer moved 
her from standard a tip line to a service charge model, which resulted 
in her taking home less pay.
  Small businesses will also suffer if this far-left policy is 
implemented. Without the cash reserves or profit margins to absorb the 
increase in labor costs, small businesses will have a choice of several 
bad options. Among their choices are laying off workers, raising prices 
on their customers, replacing workers with robots, or going out of 
business.
  The National Federation of Independent Business estimates that 
businesses with fewer than 500 employees will account for 57 percent of 
job losses, and businesses with fewer than 100 employees will account 
for 43 percent of job losses.
  Still, my Democratic colleagues are trying to sell this radical wage 
hike by claiming it will redistribute wealth and provide poor Americans 
with a ``living wage.'' Yet, the CBO predicts that, by 2025, there 
would be a $9 billion net reduction in family income resulting from a 
$15 minimum wage. This so-called raise would reduce pay for many 
American families.
  Let's not forget, the U.S. economy is booming, and lesser-skilled 
workers are benefiting. Earlier this month, The Wall Street Journal 
reported that ``wages are rising at the fastest rate in a decade for 
lower-skilled workers, and unemployment among less-educated Americans 
and minorities is near a record low.''
  We know from the latest jobs report that progrowth policies like the 
Republican Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and eliminating unnecessary 
regulations are raising wages, adding jobs, and reducing unemployment.
  With 7.3 million unfilled jobs nationwide, job creators know they 
must offer competitive wages and benefits to attract and retain 
workers, so it is bewildering that Democrats refuse to acknowledge or 
celebrate the victories of our present economy and continue to call for 
socialist policies. Instead, they want to pass this ill-advised 
legislation, which would wreak havoc on the economic progress we have 
achieved over the last few years.

  The cost of living in New York City is much higher than the cost of 
living in my hometown in North Carolina. With such disparities in the 
cost of living across the country, mandating a one-size-fits-all wage 
hike will cause job losses and harm entry-level workers in many regions 
around the country.
  Even President Obama's former chairman of economic advisers, Alan 
Krueger, argued in October 2015 that raising the minimum wage to $15 
would ``put us in uncharted waters and risk undesirable and unintended 
consequences.''
  H.R. 582 is deeply irresponsible. Workers, families, small 
businesses, and the U.S. economy will suffer as a direct result of this 
drastic mandate.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I remind my colleague that a vote 
against this bill is a vote to deny about 37 percent of workers in her 
district of North Carolina a raise of about $3,800 a year.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. 
Bonamici), the chair of the Education and Labor Subcommittee on Civil 
Rights and Human Services.
  Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Scott for yielding.
  The Federal minimum wage has been stagnant for too long, exacerbating 
income inequality and leaving working families behind.
  A recent study from the National Low Income Housing Coalition found 
that someone working 40 hours a week who is earning the Federal minimum 
wage or the prevailing State minimum wage cannot afford a two-bedroom 
rental home at fair market rent in any State, metropolitan area, or 
county in the country.
  Workers working full-time should be able to afford basic needs like 
food, housing, healthcare, and childcare.
  Today, we can support working families by passing the Raise the Wage 
Act. This bill will gradually raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 
2025 and make sure that tipped workers, youth, and individuals with 
disabilities are paid a full, not a subminimum, wage.
  Recent analysis from the Economic Policy Institute found that raising 
the Federal minimum wage to $15 an hour would benefit close to 27,000 
workers just in northwest Oregon alone.
  The Raise the Wage Act is good for workers and good for the economy.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Scott for his leadership, and I urge my 
colleagues to support the bill.
  Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson).
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairwoman 
from North Carolina for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I certainly rise in favor of upward mobility. I rise in 
favor of greater opportunity. But this bill doesn't do that. I rise in 
opposition to this underlying bill.
  Mr. Speaker, increasing the Federal minimum wage by 107 percent is an 
extreme and unprecedented policy that will have a severe and negative 
impact on many American families, our Nation's workforce, our economy, 
and once again, most importantly, hardworking American families.
  According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, if enacted, 
this legislation would cause approximately 3.7 million workers--let's 
extrapolate that to families--across this Nation to lose their jobs by 
2025.

                              {time}  0930

  My home State of Pennsylvania has estimated that more than 120,000 
individuals, thereby families, would be negatively impacted through the 
loss of their jobs. That is not upward mobility. That is downward 
mobility.
  Mr. Speaker, the majority of Americans, 54 percent, think losing up 
to 3.7 million jobs for a $15 minimum wage is not a good idea. And 42 
percent of families with a minimum-wage earner would see a net 
reduction in total family income under the $15 minimum wage. That is 
according to the Congressional Budget Office.
  Mr. Speaker, that is totally unacceptable.
  Now, I have always been a proponent of Federal policies that aim to 
lift individuals out of poverty and provide them with skills necessary 
to gain good-paying, family-sustaining jobs. We have done that in this 
body, and it is working.
  We should be promoting bipartisan policies that are proven to enhance 
workforce development. For example, last Congress we passed the 
Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act, 
restoring rungs on a ladder of opportunity.
  The President has signed that bill into law, and we are working 
diligently

[[Page H7098]]

with the States to ensure that they are doing everything possible to 
fill the 7.5 million open jobs in this country, most of them good, 
family-sustaining jobs.
  We need to ensure that policies enhance job-training programs; so we 
are not talking about a minimum wage but, rather, arming individuals 
with skills to compete and to earn well above a minimum wage.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
  Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. I yield the gentleman from Pennsylvania 
an additional 20 seconds.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, 63 percent of Americans 
support our leadership expanding pathways to greater opportunity 
through CTE, the better way.
  I want everyone who is willing to work in this country to succeed, 
but this legislation is not the answer. I encourage my colleagues to 
oppose the bill, and then we can talk after this debate so we can get 
to work on legislation to make sure job seekers have the skills to 
compete and succeed in the modern workforce.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I remind my colleague that his 
vote against the bill is a vote to deny about 38 percent of the workers 
in his district in Pennsylvania an average wage of about $3,300 a year.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Takano), the chair of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a letter from the 
National Employment Law Project in support.
                                                    July 16, 2019.
       The undersigned organizations enthusiastically support the 
     Raise the Wage Act of 2019, introduced by Senators Bernie 
     Sanders (VT) and Patty Murray (WA), Representatives Robert C. 
     ``Bobby'' Scott (VA), Mark Pocan (WI) and Stephanie Murphy 
     (FL).
       If enacted, this legislation would:
       Gradually raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour in 
     2025;
       After 2025, adjust the minimum wage each year to keep pace 
     with growth in the typical worker's wages;
       Phase out the outdated subminimum wage for tipped workers, 
     which has been frozen at a meager $2.13 since 1991; and,
       Sunset the much criticized ability of employers to pay 
     workers with disabilities a subminimum wage through 
     certificates issued by DOL.
       Phase out the subminimum wage for workers under the age of 
     20.
       At a time when wage stagnation and income inequality pose 
     serious threats to our families and our economy, the Raise 
     the Wage Act of 2019 will begin to reverse that cycle and 
     raise pay broadly across the bottom of the workforce. 
     According to the Economic Policy Institute, this Act will 
     deliver long-overdue raises to more than 1 in 4 workers, 90% 
     of whom are over the age of 20. The average age of workers 
     who would get a raise is 35, nearly half have some years of 
     college education. In fact, those who work year-round would 
     see a raise in the order of $3,000 a year, which is enough to 
     make a tremendous difference in the life of a preschool 
     teacher, bank teller, or fastfood worker who today struggles 
     to get by on around $20,000 per year.
       28 percent are working parents with children, and half have 
     family incomes of less than $40,000 per year. Women make up 
     nearly 58 percent of the workers who would benefit from a $15 
     minimum wage, which would be instrumental in helping to close 
     the gender-wage-gap. Raising the minimum wage to $15 would 
     also significantly benefit workers of color, with 38 percent 
     of African American workers and 33 percent of Latinos seeing 
     a pay increase once this law goes into effect.
       These are the frontline workers who make America run--yet 
     due to the erosion of the real value of the minimum wage over 
     the last half century, they are struggling even as our 
     economy enjoys a solid recovery.
       The time for the Raise the Wage Act is long overdue, and we 
     cannot delay in working toward its passage. We call on 
     Congress to enact this important piece of legislation as 
     quickly as possible, and for President Trump to sign it when 
     it comes to his desk.
           Sincerely,
       RI Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW); Raise Minimum 
     Wages; Raise the Wage PA; Raise-Op Housing Cooperative; 
     Refuge Ministries Tampa Bay; Regina Mundi Inc.; Religious 
     Institute; Restaurant Opportunities Center of Michigan (ROC-
     MI); Restaurant Opportunities Center of Pennsylvania; 
     Restaurant Opportunities Centers United RESULTS Raleigh; 
     RESULTS-Santa Fe; Rural Coalition; Rural Coaltion & Alianza 
     Nacional de Campesinas; Rural Community Workers Alliance; 
     Sacramento Housing Aliiance; Sacramento Regional Coalition to 
     End Homelessness; SafeHouse Denver, Inc; San Diego Hunger 
     Coalition; San Gabriel Valley-Whittier NOW.
       Santa Fe NOW; Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty 
     Law; Sconiers Homeless Preventive Organization Inc; Seattle 
     Human Services Coalition; Seattle/King County Coalition on 
     Homelessness; Second Harvest Food Bank of Lehigh Valley and 
     Northeast Pennsylvania; SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania; Service 
     Employees International Union; Sexuality Information and 
     Education Council of the United States (SIECUS); Sherwood 
     Community Services; SIA Legal Team; Sinsinawa Dominican Peace 
     and Justice Office; Sister Reach; Sisters of Charity 
     Federation; Sisters of Mercy in NH; Sisters of Mercy West 
     Midwest Community Justice Team; Sisters of Saint Mary of 
     Namur; Sisters of St Joseph of Chambery Justice and Peace 
     Committee; Sisters of St. Dominic of Blauvelt, New York; 
     Sisters of St. Francis, Clinton, Iowa Leadership Team.
       Sisters of the Holy Spirit and Mary Immaculate; Sisters of 
     the Most Precious Blood of O'Fallon, MO; Social Action 
     Linking Together (SALT); SocioEnergetics Foundation; outh 
     Carolina Christian Action Council, Inc.; South Dakota Chapter 
     of the National Association of Social Workers; Southern HIV/
     AIDS Strategy Initiative (SASl)/Duke University School of 
     Law; Southern Mutual Help Association, Inc.; Southern Poverty 
     Law Center; Southfield Community Church; Southwest PA 
     National Organization For Women; Southwest Women's Law 
     Center; Sravasti Abbey; St. James Infirmary; St. Louis CLUW 
     Chapter; St. Louis Gateway District Area Local--APWU 8; St. 
     Louis Gateway District Area Local APWU--POWER Sisters; TASH; 
     Tax Fairness Oregon; Tax March.
       Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation (TNDC); 
     Tennessee Citizen Action; Tennessee Justice Center; Texas 
     Employment Lawyers Association; THE ABCD, INC; The 
     Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis; The Farmworker 
     Association of Florida; The Greater Boston Food Bank; The HUB 
     for Progress; The Praxis Project; The Public Interest Law 
     Project; The Washington Initiative for Supported Employment; 
     The Welcome Church; TMS Enterprises; Toledo Area Jobs with 
     Justice & Interfaith worker Justice Coalition; Transition 
     Services, Inc.; Transport Workers Union of America; Treatment 
     Action Group (TAG); Trillium Employment Services; Tzedek DC.
       UCSF; UETHDA Head Start; Ultra Violet; UnidosUS; Union for 
     Reform Judaism; Union of Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 
     USA UNIT; United Food and Commercial Workers International 
     Union; United Food and Commercial Workers Local 227; United 
     Food and Commercial Workers Local 75; United for a Fair 
     Economy; United For Respect; United Steelworkers (USW); 
     University Church; University of New Mexico Community and 
     Regional Planning Department; Upper East Tennessee Human 
     Development Agency; URGE: Unite for Reproductive & Gender 
     Equity; Vennmedia: A Nonprofit Media Enterprise; Virginia 
     Employment Lawyers Association; Voices for Progress; Vote-
     Climate.
       Wage Equality; Washington Anti-Hunger & Nutrition 
     Coalition; Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and 
     Urban Affairs; Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless; 
     Washington State Budget & Policy Center; Washington State 
     Community Action Partnership; Watertown Citizens for Peace, 
     Justice & the Environment; We The People--Pennsylvania; 
     Wellstone Democratic Renewal Club; West Valley Neighborhoods 
     Coalition; West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy; Western 
     Center on Law and Poverty; Western NY Chapter Coalition of 
     Labor Union Women; Western Pennsylvania Employment Lawyers 
     Association (WPELA); WHEAT--World Hunger Education, Advocacy 
     & Training; Whitman-Walker Health; Windham Area Interfaith 
     Ministry.
       Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice; Women Employed; Women's 
     Fund of Rhode Island; Women's Law Project; Worcester County 
     Food Bank; Worker Justice Center of New York; Working 
     Families Party; Working Partnerships USA; Workplace Fairness; 
     Young Progressives Demanding Action; Youth Care; YWCA of the 
     University of Illinois; YWCA Seattle | King | Snohomish; YWCA 
     USA; YWCA Utah.

  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 582, the 
Raise the Wage Act.
  There is currently no place in America where a worker making $7.25 
per hour can afford a two-bedroom apartment. Millions of families are 
struggling to make ends meet. As one of the richest countries in the 
world, we should be ashamed.
  This bill will give 27 million workers a raise and lift 1.3 million 
people out of poverty. Helping low-income workers is long overdue.
  Contrary to what my Republican colleagues have been saying, raising 
the minimum wage is popular among American workers. That is why voters 
in States like California, Arkansas, Arizona, and Missouri have voted 
to increase their State minimum wages.
  Congress has the opportunity to restore the value of work, lift 
families out of poverty, and ensure a fair wage for workers everywhere 
in America.
  I urge all my colleagues to vote in support of workers and families 
by supporting the Raise the Wage Act.
  Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Rice).
  Mr. RICE of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, the Democrats' assault on 
rural America continues.

[[Page H7099]]

  The Congressional Budget Office estimates that if this minimum wage 
law were enacted, up to 3.7 million jobs in America would vanish. And 
what areas would lose the most? Obviously, the areas with the most 
minimum wage jobs, rural areas.
  You see, these areas have a much lower cost of living. You can rent 
an apartment for $500 per month, instead of $3,000 per month in San 
Francisco, where Nancy Pelosi is from. Food costs are lower, taxes are 
lower, utilities are lower, and an American family can have a 
comfortable living on half what it takes in San Francisco, Seattle, or 
New York.
  One size does not fit all. A $15 minimum wage would cost these poor 
rural counties thousands of jobs. Even blue State Oregon recognized 
this fact when it adopted a tiered minimum wage with one rate for urban 
areas, another for suburban, and another for rural.
  I represent three poor South Carolina counties, Marion, Dillon, and 
Marlboro. These are majority African American and suffered stagnation 
over a lost decade following the financial crisis and the stifling 
government overreach of the Obama administration.
  After tax reform and regulatory reform, these poor counties are 
finally recovering. Two years ago, when Donald Trump took office, the 
unemployment rate in Marion County was 9.6 percent. Today it is 4.6 
percent. What a turnaround.
  And yet, even in the face of this, Democrats haven't learned their 
lesson and want to return to the days of big government, big regulation 
overreach that will hurt these poor rural counties the worst.
  Everyone is concerned about income inequality. Here is a suggestion, 
to stop complaining and actually do something about it. Let's work 
together to fix our broken immigration system.
  Hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens cross our southern border 
every year. This limitless supply of cheap labor steals from our 
children and holds down wages for the hardworking, law-abiding 
Americans. The most affected are the most vulnerable at the bottom of 
the income ladder, and particularly those in rural areas.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
  Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. I yield the gentleman from South Carolina 
an additional 30 seconds.
  Mr. RICE of South Carolina. Harvard professor George Borjas estimates 
that competition from low-skilled immigrants has reduced the American 
lower middle-class wages by $800 to $1,500 yearly.
  Stop the endless flow of illegal labor and watch wages rise. For 
once, let's put the American worker first. For once, let's put America 
first.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I remind my colleague that his 
vote against this bill is a vote to deny about 41 percent of the 
workers in his district in South Carolina a raise of about $3,800 a 
year.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. 
Wilson), the chair of the Health, Employment, Labor, and Pension 
Subcommittee.
  Ms. WILSON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a letter 
in support of H.R. 582, the Raise the Wage Act of 2019, from the U.S. 
Women's Chamber of Commerce.

                                              U.S. Women's Chamber


                                                  of Commerce,

                                    Washington, DC, July 15, 2019.

     Letter in Support of H.R. 582, the Raise the Wage Act of 2019

       My name is Margot Dorfman and I am the CEO of the U.S. 
     Women's Chamber of Commerce. I represent women business 
     owners across America, who support raising the minimum wage.


                              Introduction

       The U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce was founded to support 
     the continued economic advancement of women in America. The 
     Women's Chamber has more than 500,000 members--most of them 
     small business owners. We have members in every state.
       The business owners with whom I talk every day believe 
     that, far from hurting their businesses, raising the minimum 
     wage in fact helps small businesses, women workers and the 
     broader economy. Raising the minimum wage reinforces their 
     business strategies, while an inadequate minimum wage 
     undermines them.
       It is vitally important to understand that the number one 
     problem I hear from my members is that consumer demand is 
     still weak. Raising the minimum wage helps directly with that 
     by putting more money in the pockets of customers who will 
     spend it at our local businesses.
       The migration of women from the workforce into business 
     ownership has been one of the great economic achievements of 
     the American dream. As women moved from employees to business 
     owners, we have brought a new perspective to America's 
     business leadership. Women now own about 40 percent of all 
     privately held firms in the United States and are exercising 
     the decision-making authority that comes with that role to 
     effect positive changes in the workplace.
       My member business owners realize that most of the people 
     working for low pay across the country--the waitresses, the 
     health aides and the cashiers--are women. Many of my members 
     were once employees themselves. They know that raising the 
     minimum wage helps working women and families in their 
     struggle to make ends meet. Our members know that a minimum 
     wage of $7.25 an hour is much too low.
       As a matter of fact, large national chains that pay low 
     wages may actually be competing unfairly with women-owned 
     small businesses that work hard to assure that their 
     employees receive fair pay. In short, keeping the minimum 
     wage low keeps women and families down.
       For these reasons and more, the U.S. Women's Chamber of 
     Commerce supports raising the federal minimum wage to $15 per 
     hour by 2024 and then indexing it to median hourly wages so 
     that it doesn't erode again. And we also support gradually 
     raising the minimum wage for tipped workers until it equals 
     the regular minimum wage as called for in the Raise the Wage 
     Act.


    Small Businesses Show That Paying Higher Wages Is Economically 
                               Realistic

       There are two roads to profitability: the high road and the 
     low road. Businesses can invest in their workforces with 
     decent wages and benefits, and enjoy the benefits of a 
     dedicated workforce with lower turnover, higher productivity 
     and better customer service. Or businesses can pay poverty 
     wages and churn through employees. These businesses may save 
     on immediate payroll, but they experience the significant 
     expense of higher turnover, constant recruitment and 
     training, higher absenteeism, and a less experienced, less 
     productive workforce.
       Only one road to profitability delivers us a strong floor 
     under our economy, a growing middle class, upward mobility 
     and the promise of the American Dream. The business owners 
     supported by the U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce have chosen 
     the high road strategy for building their businesses: they 
     pay better wages and their businesses benefit as a result. 
     They report to me that this approach attracts more stable, 
     dependable, productive employees. That's not surprising since 
     better wages enable workers to concentrate on their job 
     without continually worrying about how they will put gas in 
     their cars, pay for day care or keep up with their rent.
       At small businesses, the owners and employees work side by 
     side on a daily basis, working together to offer the best 
     goods and services to their customers. My members know they 
     cannot generally compete with the big box stores or the chain 
     restaurants on price. Instead, their competitive advantage is 
     higher quality service and a real connection to the community 
     and its residents.
       The reality is that my members and other Main Street 
     businesses have a lot in common with low-wage workers: both 
     are being squeezed by big corporations. The low wages that 
     big retailers and restaurant chains pay are one of many 
     factors that contributes to their price advantage over small 
     and local businesses. Indeed, low-paying big chains count on 
     responsible employers and taxpayers to subsidize them by 
     providing food stamps and public health assistance to their 
     workers who can't make ends meet on poverty wages.
       Raising the minimum wage to a more realistic level helps 
     level the playing field for businesses like my members who 
     believe in treating their workers fairly and investing in the 
     communities they are rooted in.


  Weak Consumer Spending Is Hurting Small Businesses and Raising the 
                    Minimum Wage Can Give It a Boost

       My members see the stagnant wages and economic anxiety that 
     most American families are facing as one of the major factors 
     weakening the economy a decade after the Great Recession. And 
     economists recognize that until we restore real wage growth 
     for working and middle-class Americans, consumer spending 
     will not be where we need it to be to help businesses thrive 
     and grow into the future.
       Too many people forget that workers are also consumers. 
     Consumer spending drives 70 percent of our economy, and we 
     must repower broad-based consumer spending--backed by 
     adequate wages rather than unaffordable debt--if we are going 
     to repower our economy, create good jobs and reverse the 
     decline in our middle class. Raising the minimum wage boosts 
     the economy from the bottom up, which is exactly what we 
     need.
       That's why local businesses support raising the minimum 
     wage--because that additional money in the pockets of the 
     lowest paid workers will be spent immediately in the local 
     economy. These workers are not taking fancy trips abroad or 
     speculating on Wall Street. They are spending pay increases 
     at the grocery store, the pharmacy and the auto-repair in 
     their communities.

[[Page H7100]]

  



              Raising the Minimum Wage Helps Working Women

       Finally, as a representative of women-owned businesses, I 
     want to emphasize that working women represent the greatest 
     percentage of workers to benefit from increasing the minimum 
     wage. The typical low-wage worker is an adult woman. Think of 
     your waitress at Applebee's, or the cashier who rings you up 
     at the supermarket. Think of the childcare center worker who 
     takes care of your son or daughter, or the health aide who 
     helps your mother or grandfather.
       Many of the women business owners who belong to the U.S. 
     Women's Chamber of Commerce left the workforce to start their 
     own businesses because they felt that the jobs where women 
     worked were not being fairly paid. In building their own 
     companies and becoming employers, they have created working 
     environments where they try to do better by paying and 
     playing fairly. That's why women-owned businesses tend to pay 
     above minimum wage. Women business owners understand and 
     value security for families.
       In sum, a $15 minimum wage by 2024 would offer all of the 
     benefits that I have outlined: it will help small businesses 
     like my members by putting more money in the pockets of 
     workers, which will boost spending and job creation on Main 
     Street; it will help level the playing field for small 
     businesses and big businesses; and it will bring fairer pay 
     to American women, who hold the majority of the low-wage jobs 
     that will see a raise.
       While some try to portray a minimum wage increase as a 
     fight between business and workers, raising the minimum wage 
     is in reality good for both.
       It is for these reasons that the U.S. Women's Chamber of 
     Commerce supports the Raise the Wage Act of 2019.
       Thank you.
                                                   Margot Dorfman,
                 Chief Executive Officer, U.S. Women's Chamber of 
                                            CommerceTM.

  Ms. WILSON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, it is amoral that millions of 
people in this country are forced to work so hard for so little in 
return.
  Believe me, Congress knows, because there is a serious bipartisan 
movement afoot to provide Members of Congress with a cost-of-living 
raise. Congress realizes that they do not earn enough and, hopefully, 
they realize that people earning $7.50 an hour are definitely not 
earning enough.
  So today, I call on CNN, MSNBC, FOX News, to let the American people 
know that we are attempting to raise the minimum wage. Herald it from 
the loudest bully pulpit you have. Listen to the facts given today by 
Chairman Scott and my colleagues and share them.
  News outlets all over America, you have a responsibility to let the 
American people know that we hear them, we support them, and we 
understand. We are doing our very, very best to help them. We are 
fighting for them.
  Raise the wage, colleagues. Raise the wage today.
  Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. David P. Roe).
  Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to encourage 
my colleagues to vote against H.R. 582, the so-called Raise the Wage 
Act, which is nothing more than another baseless, irrational attack on 
President Trump's successful economic record.
  Just this week, House Democrats voted to condemn the President, hold 
his advisers in contempt, and many House Democrats voted to impeach the 
President. Today, they are working to undo the economic gains seen 
under the Trump administration's leadership and undermine the best 
economy in my lifetime.
  This legislation will arbitrarily double the Federal minimum wage to 
$15 an hour, despite plenty of evidence that employers are fairly 
compensating employees. This bill will hurt the very low-income people 
House Democrats claim they want to help by reducing employment 
opportunity and hours.
  In fact, the CBO estimated that this legislation will cost the 
American economy up to 3.7 million jobs and reduce real wages by $9.5 
billion.
  I offered a bipartisan amendment to prevent this bill from taking 
effect unless the GAO could show this legislation would eliminate fewer 
than 200,000 jobs in rural America, where I live, but House Democrats 
wouldn't even allow a debate.
  Just in Tennessee, this bill is predicted to eliminate more than 
66,000 jobs, roughly the size of my hometown, which is the largest city 
in my district.
  In 2016, Seattle's minimum wage increased to $13 an hour, $2 shy of 
what the House Democrats are proposing today, and it has already 
reduced hours for low-income jobs. If legislation like this is hurting 
large areas like Seattle, it will have even a worse impact on rural 
America.
  I think my colleague across the aisle said the States had raised 
this. I think that is a perfect thing, the States ought to. They know 
their local economies better than we do here in Washington.
  I urge my Democratic colleagues to work with Republicans to implement 
policies to give every American the tools to seek higher-paying jobs 
and, once again, encourage my colleagues to vote against H.R. 582.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I remind my colleague that his 
vote against this bill is a vote to deny about 41 percent of the 
workers in his district in Tennessee an average raise of about $3,700 a 
year.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from North Carolina 
(Ms. Adams), the chair of the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections.
  Ms. ADAMS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join my colleagues in strong 
support of H.R. 582, the Raise the Wage Act.
  I have been fighting for working families for 3 decades now, from the 
State House in North Carolina, to here in the U.S. House. I led the 
successful effort in my State to raise the State's minimum wage in 2006 
from $5.15 to $6.15 an hour. Then, in 2009, the Federal Government 
raised the wage to $7.25. That was 12 years ago, and the minimum wage 
hasn't increased since. Only the cost of living has increased.
  Folks working full-time earning the minimum wage aren't making enough 
to feed their families, and that is not acceptable. No one working 
full-time should live in poverty. Working hard is not enough if you 
don't make enough.
  That is why I am a proud supporter of H.R. 582, the Raise the Wage 
Act. The Raise the Wage Act would increase wages for over 150,000 
people in my district in North Carolina. It is not just good for 
workers; it is good for the economy.
  Unlike the GOP tax cut, which benefited corporations and the wealthy, 
this bill will put money in the pockets of hardworking Americans, who 
will spend it in the local economy.
  My friends on the other side of the aisle will use outdated, 
misleading data to say that it will kill jobs. But the most 
comprehensive and recent research shows no job loss in cities that have 
already raised the wage to $15.
  The American people are with us on this. A vast majority support 
raising the minimum wage.
  You already know folks can't survive on $7.25. We don't have to do 
that in Congress. My folks on the other side of the aisle, you are 
making six figures. Can you survive on $7.25?
  I urge my colleagues, do what is right because it is right. America 
needs a raise. Join me in voting for this bill. Give the American 
people a long overdue raise.
  Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a letter from 100 economists in 
support of the $15 minimum wage.

           [From the Economic Policy Institute, Feb. 6, 2019]

       Today, workers who earn the federal minimum wage make $7.25 
     an hour--about 29 percent less per hour than their 
     counterparts made 50 years ago (after adjusting for 
     inflation) We can afford to pay the lowest-paid workers in 
     America substantially more than what their counterparts were 
     paid a half century ago Workers produce more today from each 
     hour of work with productivity nearly doubling since the late 
     1960s.
       We, the undersigned, support gradually increasing the 
     minimum wage to $15 by 2024, and then indexing it to median 
     wages to protect against future erosion. We also support 
     gradually phasing out the outdated subminimum wage for tipped 
     workers, which has been frozen at $2.13 since 1991.
       This policy would directly lift the wages of 28.1 million 
     workers by 2024. Another 11.6 million workers whose wages are 
     just above the new minimum would likely see a wage increase 
     through ``spillover'' effects, as employers adjust their 
     internal wage scales. The vast majority of employees who 
     would benefit are adults--disproportionately women--in 
     working families, who work at least 20 hours a week and 
     depend on their earnings to make ends meet.
       A $15 minimum wage by 2024 would result in $121 billion in 
     higher wages for 39.7 million low-wage workers, which would 
     also benefit their families and their communities. Since 
     lower-paid workers spend a large share of their additional 
     earnings, this injection of wages would modestly stimulate 
     consumer

[[Page H7101]]

     demand, business activity, and job growth. Further, modest 
     and infrequent minimum wage increases are directly 
     responsible for growing inequality between the bottom and the 
     middle class; this minimum wage increase would provide a 
     significant and much needed boost to the earnings of low-wage 
     workers. And, because it would be indexed to growth in median 
     wages, it would ensure that the wage floor keeps up with 
     growth of middle-wage workers going forward.
       The last decade has seen a wealth of rigorous academic 
     research on the effect of minimum wage increases on 
     employment, with the weight of evidence showing that previous 
     modest increases in the minimum wage had little or no 
     negative effects on the employment of low-wage workers. It is 
     time to support a bolder increase to address the fact that 
     wages for workers at the low end of the labor market have 
     continued to stagnate. Even if the growth of aggregate work 
     hours for low-wage workers were to slow somewhat, workers who 
     work less could still break even, or come out ahead, in terms 
     of annual earnings. Since as many as 10 percent of the 
     lowest-wage workers leave or start jobs every month, any 
     decrease in the number of full-time equivalent jobs will mean 
     that some workers will take more time finding a new job, or 
     will work fewer hours. But many of these workers may still 
     see their annual earnings rise because of their wage 
     increase.
       The benefits of gradually phasing in a $15 minimum wage by 
     2024 would be far-reaching, lifting pay for tens of millions 
     of workers and helping reverse decades of growing pay 
     inequality. The benefits of a $15 minimum wage in 2024 for 
     workers, their families, and their communities far outweigh 
     the potential costs. Of course, the minimum wage is just one 
     of many policies designed to help low-wage workers. We 
     believe that an increase in the minimum wage should be 
     accompanied by complementary policies such as an expanded 
     Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), enhanced safety net, 
     increased job training, and policies to generate full 
     employment.
           Sincerely,
       Daron Acemoglu, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 
     Ph.D.; Jacqueline Agesa, Marshall University, Ph.D.; Alan 
     Aja, Brooklyn College, CUNY, Ph.D.; Randy Albelda, University 
     of Massachusetts Boston, Ph.D.; Sylvia A. Allegretto, 
     University of California, Berkeley, Ph.D.; Bernard E. 
     Anderson, University of Pennsylvania, Ph.D.; Robert M. 
     Anderson, University of California, Berkeley, Ph.D.; Eileen 
     Appelbaum, Center for Economic and Policy Research, Ph.D.; 
     Michael Ash, University of Massachusetts Amherst Ph.D.; 
     Algernon Austin, Demos, Ph.D.
       Kate Bahn, Washington Center for Equitable Growth, Ph.D.; 
     Dean Baker, Center for Economic and Policy Research, Ph.D.; 
     Erdogan Bakir, Bucknell University, Ph.D.; Stephen Baldwin, 
     Retired, Ph.D.; Nina Banks, Bucknell University, Ph.D.; James 
     Baron, Yale School of Management, Ph.D.; Lourdes Beneria, 
     Cornell University, Ph.D.; Jared Bernstein, Ph.D.; Josh 
     Bivens, Economic Policy Institute, Ph.D.; Sandra Black, 
     University of Texas at Austin, Ph.D.
       Gail Blattenberger, University of Utah, Ph.D.; Robert 
     Blecker, American University, Ph.D.; Barry Bluestone, 
     Northeastern University, Ph.D.; Barry Bosworth, Brookings 
     Institution, Ph.D.; Heather Boushey, Washington Center for 
     Equitable Growth, Ph.D.; Clair Brown, University of 
     California, Berkeley, Ph.D. Lawrence Chimerine, Radnor 
     Consulting, Ph.D.; Robert Coen, Northwestern University, 
     Ph.D.; Jennifer Cohen, Miami University, Ph.D.; David 
     Cutler Harvard University, Ph.D.
       Sheldon Danziger, Univensty of Michigan, Ph.D.; Angus 
     Deaton, Princeton University, Ph.D.; Gregory DeFreitas, 
     Hofstra University, Ph.D.; James Devine, Loyola Marymount 
     University, Ph.D.; Geert Dhondt, John Jay College, CUNY 
     Ph.D.; Peter Diamond, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 
     Ph.D.; Adrienne Eaton, Rutgers University Ph.D.; Peter Eaton, 
     University of Missouri-Kansas City, Ph.D.; John Edgren, 
     Eastern Michigan University, Ph.D.; Gerald Epstein, 
     University of Massachusetts Amherst, Ph.D.
       Allan Freyer, NC Justice Center, Ph.D.; Teresa Ghilarducci 
     The New School, Ph.D.; Jeeten Gin, Union College, Ph.D.; 
     Martin Hart-Landsberg, Lewis and Clark College Ph.D.; Jeff 
     Hayes, Institute for Women's Policy Research, Ph.D.; Adam 
     Hersh Former Chief Economist of the Joint Economic Committee, 
     Ph.D.; Stephen Herzenberg, Keystone Research Center, Ph.D.; 
     Emily Hoffman, Western Michigan University, Ph.D.; David 
     Howell, The New School, Ph.D.
       Candace Howes, Connecticut College, Ph.D.; Jennifer Hunt, 
     Rutgers University, Ph.D.; Jeffrey Keefe, Rutgers University, 
     Ph.D.; Mary C. King Portland State University, Ph.D.; Janet 
     Knoedler, Bucknell University, Ph.D.; Ebru Kongar, Dickinson 
     College, Ph.D.; Brent Kramer, City University of New York, 
     Ph.D.; Haydar Kurban, Howard University, Ph.D.; Paul Leigh, 
     University of California, Davis, Ph.D.; Henry Levin, Columbia 
     University, Ph.D.
       Oren Levin-Waldman, Metropolitan College of New York, 
     Ph.D.; Mark Levinson, SEIU, Ph.D.; Frank Levy, Massachusetts 
     Institute of Technology, Ph.D.; David B. Lipsky, Cornell 
     University, Ph.D.; Pamela Loprest, Urban Institute, Ph.D.; 
     Stephanie Luce, School of Labor and Urban Studies/CUNY, 
     Ph.D.; Lisa Lynch, Brandeis University Ph.D.; Stanley 
     Malinowitz, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Ph.D.; Julianne 
     Malveaux, Economic Education, Ph.D.; Patrick Mason, Florida 
     State University, Ph.D.
       Jordan Matsudaira, Columbia University, Ph.D.; Peter 
     Matthews, Middlebury College, Ph.D.; Anne Mayhew, University 
     of Tennessee, Ph.D.; Elaine McCrate, University of Vermont, 
     Ph.D.; John Miller Wheaton College, Ph.D.; Lawrence Mishel, 
     Economic Policy Institute, Ph.D.; Monique Morrissey, Economic 
     Policy Institute, Ph.D.; Philip Moss, University of 
     Massachusetts, Lowell, Ph.D.; Eshragh Motahar Union College, 
     Ph.D.; Tracy Mott, University of Denver, Ph.D.
       Richard Murnane, Harvard University, Ph.D.; Robert Murphy, 
     Boston College, Ph.D.; Paulette Olson, Wright State 
     University, Ph.D.; Rudolph Oswald, Retired, Ph.D.; Spencer 
     Pack, Connecticut College, Ph.D.; Prasannan Parthasarathi, 
     Boston College, Ph.D.; Manuel Pastor University of Southern 
     California, Ph.D.; Mark Paul, New College of Florida, Ph.D.; 
     Eva Paus, Mount Holyoke College Ph.D.; Kenneth Peres, Retired 
     Communications Workers of America, Ph.D.
       Joseph Persky, University of Illinois at Chicago Ph.D.; 
     Michael Piore, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Ph.D.; 
     Robert Pollen, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Ph.D.; 
     Mark Price, Keystone Research Center, Ph.D.; Michael Reich, 
     University of California, Berkeley, Ph.D.; Rene Rosenbaum, 
     Michigan State University, Ph.D.; Jesse Rothstein, University 
     of California, Berkeley, Ph.D.; Daniel Rubinfeld University 
     of California, Berkeley, Ph.D.; Emmanuel Saez, University of 
     California, Berkeley, Ph.D.; Isabel Sawhill, Brookings 
     Institution, Ph.D.
       Peter Schaeffer, West Virginia University, Ph.D.; William 
     Schaniel, University of West Georgia, Ph.D.; Stephen J. 
     Schmidt, Union College, Ph.D.; John Schmitt, Economic Policy 
     Institute, Ph.D.; Geoffrey Schneider, Bucknell University, 
     Ph.D.; Juliet Schor, Boston College, Ph.D.; Robert E Scott 
     Economic Policy Institute Ph.D.; Heidi Shierholz, Economic 
     Policy Institute, Ph.D.; Rachel Silbermann, Connecticut 
     Voices for Children, Ph.D.; Andna Smythe, Howard University, 
     Ph.D.
       Younghwan Song, Union College Ph.D.; Sarah Spell, Ph.D.; 
     Case Sprenkle, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 
     Ph.D.; William E. Spriggs, Howard University and AFL-CIO, 
     Ph.D.; Marshall Steinbaum, Roosevelt Institute, Ph.D.; James 
     Stewart, The Pennsylvania State University, Ph.D.; Frank 
     Stricker, CSU Dominguez Hills, Ph.D.; Kenneth P. Thomas, 
     University of Missouri-St Louis, Ph.D.; Chris Tilly, 
     Univeisity of California Los Angeles, Ph.D.
       Laura Tyson, University of California Berkeley, Ph.D.; 
     Johan Uribe, Denison University, Ph.D.; Paula Voos, Rutgers 
     University, Ph.D.; Richard Walker University of California, 
     Berkeley, Ph.D.; Robert Wassmer, California State University, 
     Sacramento, Ph.D.; David Weil, Brandeis University, Ph.D.; 
     Joann Weiner, The George Washington University Ph.D.; 
     Jeannette Wicks-Lim, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, 
     Ph.D.; Charles Wilber, University of Notre Dame, Ph.D.; Sarah 
     Wilhelm, Ph.D.; Robert B. Williams, Guilford College, Ph.D.; 
     Valerie Wilson, Economic Policy Institute, Ph.D.; Yavuz 
     Yasar, University of Denver, Ph.D.; Alexandria Zhang, Ph.D.; 
     Ben Zipperer, Economic Policy Institute, Ph.D.

  Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as 
I may consume.
  I do agree with one thing one of our colleagues across the aisle said 
a few minutes ago. We do need to let the American people know what this 
House is about to do; kill millions of jobs.
  The CBO's estimate was that 1.3 million jobs would be lost, minimum. 
Of those jobs lost, 60 percent would be female workers, 46 percent 
would be young workers, and 38 percent would have less than a high 
school diploma. These are the people that our colleagues claim they 
care about.
  However, what they want to do here today is harm those very people. 
So I think it is important that we let the American people understand 
what this legislation does.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Michigan 
(Mr. Walberg).
  Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 582, 
better known as the Raising Unemployment for American Workers Act.
  The bill's desired outcome may be well-intentioned, and you will hear 
hypothetical numbers from my good friend and chairman of the committee, 
assuming jobs are kept, which they won't be.

                              {time}  0945

  In reality, it causes harm to the very people it is supposed to help. 
Just ask the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.
  According to a CBO analysis of this legislation, it could eliminate 
up to 3.7 million jobs with a minimum wage increase, but the loss of 
3.7 million jobs, and reduce family income by $9 billion.
  Low-income workers without a high school degree would be hit the 
hardest.

[[Page H7102]]

  We have seen the real-world consequences of a $15 minimum wage in 
cities like Seattle. It resulted in small businesses cutting jobs and 
workers receiving fewer hours and overall take-home pay.
  Instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, there is a better way to 
boost income for hardworking families. Let's focus on policies that 
keep our economy thriving and create more opportunities for all 
Americans to find good-paying, living-wage jobs that allow advancements 
as well, not just minimum wage.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I remind my colleague that his 
vote against this bill is a vote to deny about 32 percent of the 
workers in his district in Michigan an average raise of about $2,300 a 
year. And in the CBO report that he cited, three of the most recent 
studies cited in that report show an actual increase in jobs, not a 
decrease.
  I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. Jayapal), 
the co-chair of the Progressive Caucus, a gentlewoman who can talk 
specifically about Seattle.
  Ms. JAYAPAL. Mr. Speaker, this is a big day. Today we pass the first 
minimum wage increase for workers in decades.
  And, yes, I am proud to represent Seattle, a leader in the Fight for 
$15, where I served on the committee that actually drafted the 
legislation that passed, ultimately.
  It has been 4 years since Seattle raised the wage, and I want to tell 
my colleagues across the aisle what the effect of that increase has 
been.
  Seattle is flourishing. Today we have one of the lowest unemployment 
rates in the country, and jobs are growing steadily.
  Last year, Forbes ranked Seattle the number one best place for 
business and careers in 2018, and despite the doom and gloom 
predictions from the National Restaurant Association when we passed the 
bill, what we have seen is what The Seattle Times called ``a crazy 
restaurant boom''--that is a quote--with new jobs created every year.
  The most recent and credible research shows that wages for Seattle's 
low-wage workers went up without any negative impact on employment, and 
local food prices remained constant so that families could better 
afford to buy healthy food.
  When we increased the minimum wage in Seattle, Mr. Speaker, we got 
strong businesses, healthy families, and flourishing communities. All 
American workers deserve the same thing. Let's raise the wage today.
  Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a second letter from the 
National Employment Law Project in support of this legislation.

                                                    July 16, 2019.
       The undersigned organizations enthusiastically support the 
     Raise the Wage Act of 2019, introduced by Senators Bernie 
     Sanders (VT) and Patty Murray (WA), Representatives Robert C. 
     ``Bobby'' Scott (VA), Mark Paean (WI) and Stephanie Murphy 
     (FL).
       If enacted, this legislation would:
       Gradually raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour in 
     2025;
       After 2025, adjust the minimum wage each year to keep pace 
     with growth in the typical worker's wages;
       Phase out the outdated subminimum wage for tipped workers, 
     which has been frozen at a meager $2.13 since 1991; and,
       Sunset the much criticized ability of employers to pay 
     workers with disabilities a subminimum wage through 
     certificates issued by DOL.
       Phase out the subminimum wage for workers under the age of 
     20.
       At a time when wage stagnation and income inequality pose 
     serious threats to our families and our economy, the Raise 
     the Wage Act of 2019 will begin to reverse that cycle and 
     raise pay broadly across the bottom of the workforce. 
     According to the Economic Policy Institute, this Act will 
     deliver long-overdue raises to more than 1 in 4 workers, 90% 
     of whom are over the age of 20. The average age of workers 
     who would get a raise is 35, nearly half have some years of 
     college education. In fact, those who work year-round would 
     see a raise in the order of $3,000 a year, which is enough to 
     make a tremendous difference in the life of a preschool 
     teacher, bank teller, or fast-food worker who today struggles 
     to get by on around $20,000 per year.
       28 percent are working parents with children, and half have 
     family incomes of less than $40,000 per year. Women make up 
     nearly 58 percent of the workers who would benefit from a $15 
     minimum wage, which would be instrumental in helping to close 
     the gender-wage-gap. Raising the minimum wage to $15 would 
     also significantly benefit workers of color, with 38 percent 
     of African American workers and 33 percent of Latinos seeing 
     a pay increase once this law goes into effect.
       These are the frontline workers who make America run-yet 
     due to the erosion of the real value of the minimum wage over 
     the last half century, they are struggling even as our 
     economy enjoys a solid recovery.
       The time for the Raise the Wage Act is long overdue, and we 
     cannot delay in working toward its passage. We call on 
     Congress to enact this important piece of legislation as 
     quickly as possible, and for President Trump to sign it when 
     it comes to his desk.
           Sincerely,
       Jackson State University; Jewish Women International; Jobs 
     with Justice; Just Harvest: A Center for Action Against 
     Hunger; Justice and Advocacy Committee of the Lehigh 
     Conference of Churches; Justice for Migrant Women; Kalamazoo 
     Loaves & Fishes; Kansas Association of Community Action 
     Programs; Kentucky Equal Justice Center; Kentucky State AFL-
     CIO; Keystone Progress; Keystone Research Center; Kings Local 
     Food Pantry; Korean Resource Center; KWH Law Center for 
     Social Justice and Change.
       La Frontera Ministries; La Plata County Thrive! Living Wage 
     Coalition; Labor Education Program, School of Labor and 
     Employment Relations, University of Illinois; Lamoille Family 
     Center; Law Foundation of Silicon Valley; Law Students in 
     Court; Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law; 
     Leadership Conference of Women Religious; The Leadership 
     Conference on Civil and Human Rights; Leadership Team, 
     Sisters of the Presentations; Legal Aid at Work; Legal Aid 
     Service of Broward County; Legal Momentum: The Women's Legal 
     Defense and Education Fund; Legal Voice; Let Justice Roll: 
     Living Wage Campaign.
       Lincoln Hills Development Corporation; LiveWell Colorado; 
     Long Beach Gray Panthers; Los Angeles Alliance for a New 
     Economy; Louisiana Budget Project; Louisiana Progress Action; 
     Main Street Alliance; Maine Coalition to End Domestic 
     Violence; Maine Women's Lobby; Mainers for Accountable 
     Leadership; Make the Road PA; Maryland Center on Economic 
     Policy; Maryland Hunger Solutions; Maryland National 
     Organization for Women; Massachusetts Law Reform Institute.
       Maternal and Child Health Access; MCCC/MTA; Men of All 
     Colors Together (MACT)/Phila.; Mercyhaven Inc.; Methodist 
     Federation for Social Action; Metro-Detroit Chapter of the 
     Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW); Metropolitan Community 
     Church of Washington, D.C.; Metropolitan Washington 
     Employment Lawyers Association; Michigan League for Public 
     Policy; Michigan's Children; Middlesex Coalition for 
     Children; Milwaukee Area Service & Hospitality Workers 
     Organization; Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless; 
     Mississippi Families for Kids; Mississippi Low Income Child 
     Care Initiative.
       Missouri CLUW Chapter; MomsRising; Mountain State Justice; 
     MWC, AFL-CIO; NAACP;
       NARAL Pro-Choice North Carolina; Nashua Soup Kitchen and 
     Shelter; National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good 
     Shepherd; National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum 
     (NAPAWF); National Association of Social Workers; National 
     Association of Social Workers--NJ Chapter; National 
     Association of Social Workers Connecticut Chapter; National 
     Association of Social Workers, West Virginia Chapter; 
     National Association of the Deaf; National Black Justice 
     Coalition.
       National Black Sisters' Conference; National Center for 
     Lesbian Rights; National Center for Transgender Equality; 
     National Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence; National 
     Coalition for the Homeless; National Consumers League; 
     National Council of Churches; National Council of Jewish 
     Women; National Council of Jewish Women--PA; National Council 
     of Jewish Women--Texas; National Council of Jewish Women--
     Florida; National Disability Rights Network; National 
     Domestic Workers Alliance; National Education Association; 
     National Employment Law Project.
       National Employment Lawyers Association; National 
     Employment Lawyers Association--Eastern Pennsylvania National 
     Employment Lawyers Association--Georgia Affiliate National 
     Employment Lawyers Association--New York; National Equality 
     Action Team (NEAT); National Health Care for the Homeless 
     Council; National Human Services Assembly; National 
     Immigration Law Center; National Korean American Service & 
     Education Consortium (NAKASEC} National LGBTQ Task Force 
     Action Fund; National Low Income Housing Coalition; National 
     Partnership for Women & Families; National Resource Center on 
     Domestic Violence; National Rural Social Work Caucus; 
     National Urban League.
       National Women's Law Center; National Working Positive 
     Coalition; National Workrights Institute; NC Justice Center; 
     NC State AFL-CIO; Nebraska Appleseed; Nebraska Chapter of the 
     National Association of Social Workers Neighbors Helping 
     Neighbors Teton County MT; NELA Hawaii Chapter; NELA--Kansas 
     City Affiliate; NELA--Saint Louis; NELA--Alabama; Nenana 
     Tortella Council on Aging, INC; Network for Environmental & 
     Economic Responsibility; NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social 
     Justice.
       New Jersey Policy Perspective; New Jersey State Coalition 
     of Labor Union Women; New Jersey Tenants Organization; New 
     Mexico Association of Community Partners (NMACP); New Mexico 
     Black Caucus; New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty; New 
     Orleans Associates of the Sisters of the Blessed

[[Page H7103]]

     Sacrament; New Voices for Reproductive Justice; New York Paid 
     Leave Coalition; North American Climate, Conservation and 
     Environment(NACCE); North Carolina Alliance for Retired 
     Americans; North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic 
     Violence; North Carolina Council of Churches; North Dakota 
     Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers; North 
     Dakota Economic Security and Prosperity Alliance.
       Northwest Indiana Community Action; Northwest Pilot 
     Project; Oakland Park Democratic Club; Oakland Symphony; 
     Oasis Legal Services; Ohaha Family Foundation; Ohio Coalition 
     of Labor Union Women; Ohio Domestic Violence Network; 
     Oklahoma Policy Institute; Oklahoma Women's Coalition; One 
     Pennsylvania; One Stop Career Center of PR Inc; Orange County 
     Poverty Alleviation Coalition; Organize Florida; OURNOVA.
       Oxfam America; Pathways PA; Patriotic Millionaires; Pax 
     Christi Florida; Pax Christi Illinois; Pax Christi USA; 
     Peace, Justice, Sustainability Florida; Pennsylvania Budget 
     and Policy Center; Pennsylvania Council of Churches; 
     Pennsylvania Together; People Demanding Action; People's 
     Institute for Housing Justice; Philadelphia Coalition of 
     Labor Union Women; Philly Neighborhood Networks; Piedmont 
     Housing Alliance.
       Planet Earth; Policy Matters Ohio; Poor Peoples Economic 
     Human Rights Campaign; Positive Women's Network-USA; PowHer 
     New York; Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.); Pride at Work; 
     Princeton Community Housing; Professional Child Care Provider 
     Network of Prince George's Co., Inc; Project Bread-The Walk 
     for Hunger; Promise The Children; Provincial Council Clerics 
     of St. Viator (Viatorians); Public Advocacy for Kids; Public 
     Citizen; Public Citizens for Children and Youth (PCCY); 
     Public Justice Center.

  Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, as our colleagues have 
noted, States and localities may enact higher minimum wages than the 
Federal minimum wage, and there are examples of that. But let's leave 
freedom in the hands of the people, in the hands of the States. That is 
what this country is all about.
  In socialist regimes, all decisions are made by a small group of 
people at a central government. That is not the American way.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania 
(Mr. Kelly).
  Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from 
North Carolina for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I think dates matter and I think votes matter, and I 
think that sometimes because of where we are, this is kind of this 
Potomac amnesia.
  We say we want to raise people's wages, we want to create jobs, we 
want to be able to do things that lift every single boat because that 
is what a rising tide does. It is not a Democrat tide; it is not a 
Republican tide; it is a rising tide for the American people.
  I would just want to remind my colleagues, in December of 2017, not 
one of you was on board with the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. You could not 
vote for it in the House; you could not vote for it in the Senate.
  And we come here today and we talk about minimum wage and raising 
minimum wages, and I would just suggest to you that America is not 
about minimals. Nobody comes to America because I may get a minimum 
wage increase. They come to America because of maximum opportunity.
  Why would we dwell on a minimum wage when you had the chance in 
December of 2017 to lift all boats?
  Why would we turn our back on an opportunity to completely change the 
economy of the United States?
  Why would we turn our back on workers who had not been employed for 
many years, and we sit today with millions of open jobs and we don't 
have enough workers to fill them?
  And what are we talking about today? We are trying to right a wrong. 
We are trying to fix, somehow, a wrongheaded decision to vote against 
the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
  And a lot of it had to do with not because we were Republicans, but 
because we have somebody in the White House that we just don't like; 
and, my God, if we do something that lifts the hopes of all Americans 
and the wishes of all Americans and Donald Trump gets credit for it, 
that just won't work in 2020.
  I would ask my friends on the other side, if you really want to see 
America soar, stop putting roadblocks in the way. Stop standing in the 
way of hardworking American taxpayers who couldn't care less what your 
political affiliation is but watch the legislation that you pass and, 
more importantly, the legislation that you passed on.
  I would just remind you--and I know you are going to tell me the 
average wages in Pennsylvania--those wages are only available if you 
get hired.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded to address their 
remarks to the Chair.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, as the gentleman has suggested, 
his vote against the bill is a vote to deny about 43 percent of the 
workers in his district in Pennsylvania an average raise of $3,900 a 
year, while the tax bill that he supported, 80 percent of the benefits 
of that bill went to the top 1 percent and corporations.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. 
Hoyer), the House majority leader.
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  I like the gentleman from Pennsylvania. He and I are friends. We 
disagree.
  I proudly voted against the tax bill which, I think, spiked the 
deficit, and we had a continuation of the extraordinary growth of jobs 
and the economy under the Obama administration, and that has continued 
in a straight line. It didn't spike up--straight line.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Raise the Wage Act. This 
is direct--not indirect, not trickle down, direct--saying to some of 
the people who worked hardest and make the least: We are going to help. 
We think what you do is valuable to our community and to our society.
  We need to make certain that wages keep pace with the cost of living. 
We haven't done that. For 10 years, we haven't given a raise.
  We need to value the labor that our people contribute into the 
economy. That is why we have a Federal minimum wage, to ensure that 
everyone who works hard, full time, ought to be able to afford, not 
simply to get by, but to try to get ahead.
  I have heard from many in my district who have told me that 
increasing the minimum wage will have a major impact on their incomes 
and their lives.
  Dana Hudson from Owings in Calvert County, Maryland, makes the 
minimum wage of $10.10 an hour and supplements his income with farming 
on his land. He is 60 years old and looking ahead to retirement, 
knowing that a higher minimum wage in his final years of working will 
go a long way towards giving him and his wife retirement security.
  Delano Alexander of Clinton, Maryland, is an environmental services 
aide at Prince George's Hospital Center. He earns $12.85 an hour, 
presently, and if we pass this bill, he will get an income boost 
through the years to help him and his family get ahead.
  Victor Reyes of Berwyn Heights, Maryland, started his career as a 
nonunion day laborer barely making a living. Now he has a union 
construction job, and he is earning better pay. He wrote to ask me to 
support a higher minimum wage so that others who are working with him 
and haven't found better jobs can get the same economic security he now 
has.
  We referred to 27 million, 33 million--whatever that number is 
between 27 and 33--are going to get a raise by this bill. That didn't 
happen in the tax bill. Some of the richest people in America got a 
huge increase, but not the average working guy and gal.
  In June, we marked 10 years since the last minimum wage increase went 
into effect, the longest period without an increase since the minimum 
wage was first introduced under Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal.

  I was proud to bring legislation to the floor in 2007 to raise the 
minimum wage the last time Congress did so, and I am proud to do it 
again today. This is long overdue, something the previous Republican 
majority should have made a priority but failed to accomplish.
  Today, low-income workers in our economy are getting a bad deal with 
a minimum wage that doesn't even allow many workers to get by, let 
alone get ahead working 40 hours a week and living in poverty. That is 
not a successful American economy, because 10 years have passed without 
an increase.
  Workers stuck earning the current minimum wage of just $7.25 an hour 
have effectively received a 17 percent pay cut over the last 10 years. 
That is why the House will vote today on the Raise the Wage Act, which 
will gradually raise the Federal minimum wage

[[Page H7104]]

to $15 an hour by 2025, 6 years from now.
  This bill also eliminates the subminimum wage for those with 
disabilities, which will ensure their equal pay and the ability to live 
with independence.
  Many States and municipalities have already raised their minimum 
wages to this level, and it has not caused the dire consequences that 
some on the other side of the aisle have predicted. My home State of 
Maryland took action earlier this year to raise the minimum wage to $15 
an hour. I am proud of that fact.
  The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has determined that 
raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour would lift 1.3 million 
Americans directly out of poverty.
  Isn't that a good thing to do? Doesn't that make you feel better that 
we are helping to lift people out of poverty?
  And the Economic Policy Institute says that doing so would cause 
wages to go up for 33 million Americans. That is good for them.
  What I suggest is, well, it is good for our economy and it is good 
for all of us, because it will help grow the economy, make folks more 
independent, and make them feel better about themselves and about what 
they are doing.
  We campaigned on a promise to raise wages and make sure that American 
workers can access all the opportunities that make the American Dream 
possible. That is what we are doing today.
  I thank Chairman  Bobby Scott and Democrats on the Committee on 
Education and Labor for their hard work on this legislation.
  We said we were going to raise the wage. Today we are going to raise 
the wage. It is the right thing to do. I urge every Member to support 
it.
  Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, Speaker Pelosi promised that 
a $15 minimum wage hike would be passed by the House in the first 100 
hours of this Congress, so it is not surprising that 7 months later the 
Rules Committee accepted a manager's amendment to add a modest amount 
of extra time for small businesses to feel the full effect of this 
bill.
  Also, our colleague has said that this will lift 1.3 million people 
out of poverty, but it is also going to knock 3.7 million people out of 
jobs. So, let's keep it all in perspective.
  I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Allen).
  Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, I think it is laughable for anybody in this 
House to say that the government is going to raise your wages. The 
government doesn't raise wages. What the government does is provide an 
environment for businesses to raise wages, and that is where the 
decision should be.
  And it is laughable to me that Members of Congress actually believe 
that they are going to raise the wages of people in this country by 
this legislation. The Congressional Budget Office recently released a 
report saying that almost 4 million jobs could be lost if this 
legislation were implemented.
  I remind my colleagues that we had an 8-year war on business, and, 
guess what. In 2016, we said that war is over. America is open for 
business.

                              {time}  1000

  With Georgia being the number one State to do business in for the 
past 6 years, this damaging Federal mandate would reverse all of the 
great work our State has done to grow jobs and the economy.
  And I am telling you, we are getting it done in Georgia, but I don't 
want Maryland to determine what Georgia is going to do and I don't want 
Seattle to determine what Georgia is going to do.
  As a businessman, I know that our economy is all about supply and 
demand, and with more job openings, then job seekers' wages are going 
to go up. You have to pay more to keep talent. It is supply and demand, 
folks.
  In fact, in 2018, wages and salaries saw the largest increase in more 
than a decade, thanks to the economic environment led by a Republican-
led Congress and President Trump that has spurred economic growth and 
prosperity.
  The last thing we need are more one-size-fits-all Washington mandates 
that lead to job cuts, cut workers' hours for automation, and 
ultimately shut the doors of our Nation's small businesses.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``no'' vote on this legislation.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I remind my colleague that his 
vote against this bill is a vote to deny 41 percent of the workers in 
his district in Georgia an average raise of about $3,800 a year, and I 
don't think they are laughing about that.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. 
Pocan), the co-chair of the Progressive Caucus.
  Mr. POCAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Scott for yielding.
  I do find it interesting to sit and listen to a debate today where 
people who make $174,000 a year and half of which are millionaires are 
telling people they should be satisfied trying to exist on $15,000 a 
year, which is the very reason we are here today: to try to raise the 
wage for 33 million people, a quarter of the workforce in this country.
  No family in the United States can live on $7.25 an hour and make 
ends meet.
  In my home State of Wisconsin, you would have to work 93 hours a week 
at minimum wage in order to afford a modest two-bedroom apartment, and 
there is not a single county in the country where a worker earning the 
minimum wage for 40 hours a week can afford a two-bedroom apartment.
  I come to Congress with 3 decades as a small businessowner. Small 
business owners know our workers are our customers, our neighbors, and 
our community members.
  When workers have more money in their pockets, they have more money 
to spend to care for their families and stimulate our economy.
  This is especially true in rural areas, where workers have only a 
handful of employment options. If the primary employer in a rural town 
is a multibillion-dollar corporation like Walmart, they can afford to 
pay their workers $15 an hour instead of holding down wages for the 
entire community.
  Congress recently set a new record for the longest stretch in U.S. 
history without a hike in the minimum wage: 10 years. It is long past 
due that we show workers respect by putting more money in their pockets 
and support this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a letter from the United Food 
and Commercial Workers.


                                                         UFCW,

                                    Washington, DC, July 15, 2019.
     To All Members of the U.S. House of Representatives.

       Dear Representative: On behalf of the United Food and 
     Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) which 
     represents more than 1.3 million hard-working Americans in 
     food and non-food retail, pharmacy, food processing, and 
     manufacturing, I urge you to vote for the Raise the Wage Act 
     (H.R. 582) and vote against any amendments that would weaken 
     the bill. UFCW will be scoring this vote.
       The Raise the Wage Act will raise the federal minimum wage 
     from $7.25 to $8.55 this year and gradually increase it over 
     the next five years until it reaches $15 an hour in 2024. 
     After 2024, the minimum wage will be indexed so that it 
     continues to rise along with a typical workers wage. The 
     Raise the Wage Act will also end unfair exclusions for tipped 
     workers, people with disabilities, and youth so that they, 
     too, can benefit from a decent minimum wage.
       Raising the minimum wage will be good for the economy and 
     stimulate consumer spending. Today's low-wage workers earn 
     less per hour than their counterparts did 50 years ago but 
     productivity has nearly doubled in that time. If the minimum 
     wage had been raised at the same pace as productivity growth, 
     it would be over $20 an hour today. Increasing the minimum 
     wage would generate $144 billion in additional wages and most 
     of those extra earnings would be spent in grocery stores and 
     other main street businesses because lower-paid workers spend 
     a greater proportion of their earnings.
       The Raise the Wage Act would deliver long-overdue raises to 
     a large segment of the workforce. Gradually raising the 
     federal minimum wage to $15 by 2024 would lift pay for nearly 
     40 million workers--26.6 percent of the U.S. workforce. A $15 
     minimum wage would begin to reverse decades of pay inequality 
     between the lowest-paid workers and the middle class.
       Raising the minimum wage would significantly benefit 
     workers of color and women. Nearly two-fifths (38 percent) of 
     African Americans and one-third (33 percent) of Latinos would 
     get a raise and 56 percent of women workers would benefit.
       Across the country, there is overwhelming momentum in favor 
     of raising wages for our nation's lowest-wage workers. Since 
     2014, twenty-one states, plus D.C., have approved minimum 
     wage increases. California, Massachusetts, New York, and the 
     District of Columbia have approved raising their minimum 
     wages to $15 an hour and Washington, Oregon, Colorado, 
     Arizona, Missouri, Michigan, and Maine have approved minimum 
     wages ranging from $12 to $14.75 an hour.

[[Page H7105]]

       UFCW opposes a regional minimum wage. Regional minimum 
     wages bake-in low wages to already low-wage places. Rural 
     counties and Southern cities where wages have been depressed 
     for a variety of social, political, and economic reasons 
     would effectively have their low-wage status locked in. The 
     power of the minimum wage to boost worker incomes, and thus 
     consumer buying power, would be legislatively kneecapped for 
     the areas that could most use a boost in local consumer 
     demand.
       Raising the minimum wage is long overdue. I call on every 
     member of Congress to vote for the Raise the Wage Act and 
     enact this import piece of legislation as quickly as 
     possible.
           Sincerely,

                                              Ademola Oyefeso,

                           International Vice President, Director,
                      Legislative and Political Action Department.

  Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Byrne).
  Mr. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 582.
  This bill would cause disruptive job losses and harm entry-level 
workers in many regions around the country, effectively knocking the 
bottom rung off the career ladder and especially hurting young workers.
  Last Monday, CBO issued a long-awaited study, which estimates that up 
to 3.7 million jobs would be lost from a $15 minimum wage, with a 
median estimate of 1.3 million jobs lost. That includes 44,000 jobs 
that would be lost in my home State of Alabama, and those under 21 will 
suffer half those job losses.
  When comparing those numbers with the report's estimate that only 1.3 
million individuals would be lifted out of poverty, H.R. 582 would cost 
at least one job to be lost for every person who moved out of poverty. 
In the CBO's high-impact scenario, as many as three jobs would be lost 
for every individual moving out of poverty.
  This is not a tradeoff that Congress should ask America's workers and 
small businesses to make, and I especially don't think we should ask 
our young workers to make it.
  Significantly, CBO has also found there would be a reduction in real 
family income by 2025 of $9 billion, effectively reducing pay for many 
American families.
  Remember, wages are currently on the rise thanks to a booming 
economy, the Republican Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, and President Trump's 
focus on eliminating wasteful regulations.
  With 7.3 million unfilled jobs nationwide, job creators know they 
must offer competitive wages and benefits to attract and retain 
workers, and 29 States already have a minimum wage higher than the 
Federal floor.
  Instead of providing tangible benefits to working class Americans, 
H.R. 582 would cause the most harm to the very people its supporters 
claim to help.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to oppose this bill.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I remind my colleague that his 
vote against this bill is a vote to deny about 37 percent of the 
workers in his district in Alabama an average wage of about $3,700 a 
year.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. 
Norcross), a distinguished member of the Committee on Education and 
Labor.
  Mr. NORCROSS. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Scott for making sure that we 
finally, after 11 years, will have a vote to raise the minimum wage.
  This is America. You play by the rules, you work hard, you are 
supposed to be able to make it, but that is not the way it is.
  Less than 2 years ago, our colleagues on the other side of the aisle 
made sure that the top 1 percent got their raise, as they are stepping 
on the American worker.
  Today is the day that we set the record straight and give 
opportunities to those who need it the most.
  Henry Ford said it: Make sure you pay your employees enough money so 
they can buy your product and services.
  That is the true case of what is going on here today. You give a 
raise to the people who need it the most to survive, not to invest 
overseas or in a shore home. They will spend it right in their 
neighborhood going to the supermarket and drugstore.
  They shouldn't have to make the decision whether or not to put 
clothes on their kids' backs or to feed them, but that is what is going 
on today.
  Those in the top 1 percent got their raise. It is time that those who 
work hard and have the dignity of a job get their raise.
  Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a letter from the United Steel 
Workers.

                                          United Steelworkers,

                                    Pittsburgh, PA, July 15, 2019.
     Re United Steelworkers support H.R. 582, the Raise the Wage 
         Act.

     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Representative: On behalf of the 850,000 members of 
     the United Steelworkers (USW), I urge you to stand with 
     workers and support the Raise the Wage Act (H.R. 582).
       In the 10 years since Congress last took action, the 
     federal minimum wage has remained stagnant, eroding the 
     earnings and purchasing power for millions of American wage 
     workers and their families. According to the Economic Policy 
     Institute, the current federal minimum wage is worth 17 
     percent less than it was 10 years ago, down a staggering 31 
     percent from its peak value in 1968. It is clear that this 
     stagnation has resulted in a cut in real wages for those 
     workers who can least afford it.
       While 29 states and the District of Columbia have taken 
     action to raise their wage floors, the failure of federal 
     action on the minimum wage means roughly 40 percent of 
     Americans and their communities have seen continued wage 
     stagnation.
       It is past time for America to address the growing needs of 
     low-wage workers and low-income families and raise the 
     federal minimum wage. Under the Raise the Wage Act (H.R. 
     582), the value of the federal minimum wage would be restored 
     by incrementally raising the nation's wage floor to $15.00 an 
     hour by 2024 and indexing it to inflation. The legislation 
     would also eliminate the subminimum wages currently in effect 
     for tipped workers and workers with disabilities, ensuring 
     that all groups have access to consistent wages.
       Everyone benefits when the floor is raised. According to 
     the Congressional Budget Office, raising the wage to $15.00 
     an hour would boost the earnings of 27 million workers and 
     their families, lifting some of America's neediest families 
     out of poverty. Through this wage increase, the Raise the 
     Wage Act (H.R. 582) will not only help low-wage workers to 
     meet their basic needs, but it will increase workers' 
     purchasing power, helping to stimulate and grow America's 
     economy.
       All workers deserve to make a livable wage. Combined with 
     critically needed labor law reforms, this legislation will 
     serve as an important step to empowering workers. USW urges 
     you to give America's lowest paid workers a raise and enact 
     the Raise the Wage Act (H.R. 582).
           Sincerely,
                                                 Thomas M. Conway,
                                          International President.

  Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, our colleagues say all the 
time that we need to help the people at the bottom of the ladder.
  Those are exactly the people who are being helped by the Republican 
policies that were enacted in the first 2 years of this administration. 
We are seeing people at the bottom get the highest percentage increase. 
So that is already being done, and it is because of regulations being 
reduced and the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Smucker).
  Mr. SMUCKER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.
  When I was a teenager, at 14 years old, one of my first jobs was 
serving as a dishwasher at Smoketown family restaurant. I had no 
previous work experience, but the owner took a chance on me. I 
certainly didn't receive a great wage, but it was a starting point, and 
the lessons that I learned in that job were lessons that I used during 
my entire career.
  I went on after high school to buy a small construction company, 
operated it for 25 years, creating family-sustaining jobs for hundreds 
of individuals.
  Today, my 16-year-old son serves food in a skilled nursing center 
after school at a wage of $9 an hour. He is very thrilled with that; 
again, learning the skills, the people skills, needed, learning to show 
up for work on time, learning to work hard.
  In fact, one of the best indicators of success in a career is whether 
or not you had a job during high school.
  This bill, unfortunately, would rob many of the opportunity to hold 
that first job. CBO specifically said 3.7 million jobs will be lost as 
a result of this bill.
  Our friends on the other side of the aisle are not talking about that 
aspect of the bill.
  There is no question here about the desire to see every individual 
that we represent have the opportunity to live the American Dream: the 
idea the previous speaker just said, the idea that

[[Page H7106]]

you can work hard, play by the rules, and you can live your dream.
  The question is the prescription, and it is a fundamental choice. It 
is a choice of believing in our free enterprise system, believing in 
our economic system that has created more opportunity than ever before 
in the history of the world, or believing in more government control.
  Today, someone can apply at the construction company that I operated 
for many years----
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
  Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 20 
seconds to the gentleman.
  Mr. SMUCKER. Today, someone can apply at that company and have no 
experience and start at $16 an hour. That wasn't a government 
prescription. That is the free enterprise system at work.
  I am very, very proud, as the result of the work that we have done 
over the last 2 years, the tax reform act, for the first time, we are 
seeing wages rise.
  Again, it is not as a result of a bill like this, which would have 
exactly the opposite effect on that ability to achieve upward mobility.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I remind my colleague that his 
vote against the bill is a vote to deny about 34 percent of the workers 
in his district in Pennsylvania an average raise of $3,200, and that, 
in fact, wages for low-income workers have been going up, but only 
because States and localities have been increasing the minimum wage, 
just like this bill does.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. 
Levin), the vice chair of the Education and Labor Committee.
  Mr. LEVIN of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a letter 
to all Members of the House from the AFL-CIO.

                                                          AFL-CIO,
                                                    July 12, 2019.
       Dear Representative: On behalf of the AFL-CIO, I am writing 
     to urge you to vote for the ``Raise the Wage Act of 2019'' 
     (H.R. 582) scheduled for floor consideration this week. This 
     legislation would gradually raise the federal minimum wage to 
     $15 an hour by the year 2024. In addition to indexing future 
     increases to the growth in the median wage, the bill would 
     gradually eliminate the subminimum wage for tipped workers, 
     which has been stuck at $2.13 since 1991.
       Because Congress has not raised the minimum wage in more 
     than 10 years, millions of our Nation's full time workers 
     live in poverty. If the minimum wage had risen at the same 
     pace as productivity growth since 1969, it would be over $20 
     an hour today.
       Phasing in a $15 minimum wage would benefit 41 million 
     workers and begin to address the growing crisis of wage 
     inequality. More than half of the workers who would benefit 
     are adults between the ages of 25 and 54, and nearly two-
     thirds work full time. More than half (56 percent) are women, 
     nearly 30 percent of whom have children.
       According to the Economic Policy Institute, by 2024 a 
     single adult without children will need at least $31,200 ($15 
     per hour on an annual basis) to achieve an adequate standard 
     of living in all parts of the country. Allowing for a lower 
     regional minimum wage, as some have suggested, would lock 
     millions of workers into poverty, and would be especially 
     harmful to people of color and women who would benefit most 
     from a minimum wage increase.
       Multiple studies have shown that modest increases in the 
     minimum wage have not resulted in significant job loss, and 
     the income boost experienced by low-income families benefits 
     the country overall by reducing both poverty and income 
     inequality.
       Raising the minimum wage to $15 has the support of an 
     overwhelming majority of Americans, and the benefits far 
     exceed any potential cost. Once again, we urge you to vote 
     YES on the Raise the Wage Act and NO on any weakening 
     amendments. In addition, since any Motion to Recommit would 
     be the equivalent of voting against the Raise the Wage Act, 
     we urge you to vote no on the MTR.
           Sincerely,
                                                   William Samuel,
                                     Govemment Affairs Department.

  Mr. LEVIN of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman  Bobby 
Scott for his incredible leadership on this bill, and I rise in strong 
support of the Raise the Wage Act.
  Mr. Speaker, I would remind the previous speaker and the gentleman 
from Georgia (Mr. Allen) that we are proposing precisely zero more 
regulation than exists. In fact, the Federal Government has set a 
minimum wage in this country since 1938, all the great growth years of 
this economy. We are just saying that the rate should be sensible.
  I came to Washington to raise the standard of living for working 
people in Michigan's Ninth District and all across this country, and 
that is exactly what this bill does.
  Working a full-time job should guarantee that you can provide for 
your family, and a $7.25-an-hour minimum wage doesn't cut it, 
especially while worker productivity has increased exponentially, and 
executive salaries have skyrocketed.
  The gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Foxx) said the CBO score 
said a minimum of 1.3 million jobs would be lost. I want to correct the 
record. They said a minimum of zero would be. The median projection is 
that 1.3 million might be.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to remind all of my colleagues that in 2018, the 
Bureau of Labor Statistics said that 7,769,000 American workers were 
working multiple jobs because one job didn't cut it, it didn't pay 
enough for them. And that is almost certainly an undercount, according 
to all experts.
  If just one in five of those people being forced to work multiple 
jobs could quit their second and third job because one job paid enough, 
that would take care of 1.6 million jobs we wouldn't need, because 
workers were being paid a living wage.
  We have waited more than 10 years to give American families a raise. 
And I can tell you that the people of Michigan's Ninth District, where 
about 104,800 people would get a raise under this bill, have waited 
long enough.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support this historic 
legislation.
  Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), the distinguished Speaker of 
the United States House of Representatives.
  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I thank 
him for his extraordinary leadership, historic, really, for giving us 
this opportunity today to do something very special for the American 
people, for America's working families.
  This is an historic day, yes, because we are raising the minimum wage 
here in the House of Representatives, because we are channeling the 
energy of so many people across the country for fairness in the 
workplace, but it also happens to be the 171st anniversary of the 
Seneca Falls Convention.
  The Seneca Falls Convention shook the world, when they had that 
convention, with the simple proclamation that all men and women are 
created equal.
  This bill achieves that equality, giving nearly 20 million working 
women, that is nearly one-third of all working women, a raise. And it 
helps narrow the gender wage gap that disproportionately targets women 
of color, putting more money in the pockets of more than one-third of 
working women of color.

                              {time}  1015

  Today, we wake up for a day of jubilation because of the sense of 
fairness that this legislation engenders. We wake up every morning with 
a smile on our face, showing the world all the love in our hearts, and 
that love in our hearts is about fairness for the American people.
  It is interesting to note, Mr. Speaker, as has been acknowledged--as 
I just heard Congressman Levin mention, and others, as well--that it 
has been 10 years since the Federal minimum wage was raised in the 
previous Democratic majority. It had been 11 years before then, when we 
passed it in 2007, and it was signed by President Bush.
  It was bipartisan, and we were thrilled about that.
  It is interesting to see what has happened in the time since then. 
While families work hard to make ends meet, the cost of living has 
surged to unsustainable highs. Inflation has eaten nearly 20 percent of 
their wages, and the GOP special interest agenda has left them far 
behind.
  I mentioned that this is about equality for women. It is also about 
30 million people in our country getting a raise--30 million people--
and so many people being lifted out of poverty.
  I talked about 2007. That is when we first passed it in the House. It 
took a little more time for it to be law, going through the Senate and 
the rest.
  When we passed it, we were so thrilled, knowing that the President

[[Page H7107]]

would sign it. We had a big rally outside the Capitol. As soon as the 
rally was finished, Senator Ted Kennedy, who had been a really 
important part of the Senate action on raising the minimum wage, said: 
``You know what we have to do now? We have to raise the minimum wage!''
  We always have to be injecting fairness, all the time. We must never 
stop fighting to honor the dignity of work and pushing forward for 
working families and women, again, affected so drastically in all of 
this.
  American workers deserve a raise. No one can live with dignity on a 
$7.25 per hour wage. Can you?
  The Raise the Wage Act honors workers and supports families, giving 
33 million Americans a long-overdue raise and lifting many out of 
poverty.
  The bill grows our economy, increasing families' purchasing power, 
which drives economic growth that lifts up all communities. The 
consumer confidence of America's working families is an important 
element in growing our economy.
  It brings our democracy closer to the founding ideals, upholding the 
bedrock idea of fairness in our country, that hard work deserves a 
decent wage.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge a strong, bipartisan vote for this victory for 
working families and for America because every Member of this 
institution should be fighting to put more money in the pockets of 
workers in their community.
  Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Trone), the distinguished member of the 
Committee on Education and Labor.
  Mr. TRONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Raise the Wage Act.
  Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a letter signed by over 1,000 
businesses that support a fair minimum wage.

     Business for a Fair Minimum Wage Federal $15 Sign On Statement


 Part 2 of List of About 1,000 Signers and Counting as of July 17, 2019

       Alan Chebot, Owner, Parallax Productions, Allston, MA; Dean 
     Cycon, CEO, Dean's Beans Organic Coffee Company, Orange, MA; 
     Fred Davis, President, Fred Davis Corporation, Medfield, MA; 
     Megan Driscoll, CEO, Pharmalogics Recruiting, Quincy, MA; 
     Dorothy Emerson, Co-founder, Rainbow Solutions, Medford, MA; 
     Paul English, CTO and President, Lola.com Boston, MA; Rob 
     Everts, Co-CEO, Equal Exchange West Bridgewater, MA; Jen 
     Faigel, Executive Director, CommonWealth Kitchen, Dorchester, 
     MA; Nancy Feton, Co-owner, Broadside Bookshop, Northampton, 
     MA; Laura Fisher, Owner, Fisher Agencies--American Income 
     Life, Buington, MA; Tim Fisk, Owner, Salon Herdis, 
     Northampton, MA; Vincent Frano, Owner, The Bower Studio, 
     Pelham, MA; Julie Fraser, Principal & Director, Lyno Advisors 
     Inc & Present Source, Cummaquid, MA; David Gardner, 
     President/Owner, Boyds Direct Corp, Stoneham, MA; Julie 
     Goodridge, CEO, Northstar Asset Management. Inc., Boston, MA.
       Myrna Greenfield, Owner, Good Egg Marketing, Jamaica Plain, 
     MA; Jeff Greim, Founder/CEO, Your Choice Brands, Longmeadow, 
     MA; Tim Greiner, Owner, Pure Strategies, Gloucester, MA; 
     Valerie + Lhsan Gurdal, Owners, Formaggio Kitchen, Boston, 
     MA; Abraham Gutman, President & CEO, AG Mednet, Inc., Boston, 
     MA; Laury Hammel, Owner and CEO, The Longfellow Clubs, 
     Wayland, MA; Laurence Hammel, Executive Director, Sustainable 
     Business Network of Massachusetts, Wayland, MA; Jackie 
     Herskovitz Russell, Founder and President, Teak Media + 
     Communication, Boston, MA; Shel Horowitz, Owner, Going Beyond 
     Sustainability, Hadley, MA; Yscaira Jimenez, CEO, LaborX, 
     Boston, MA; Michael Kanter, Owner, Cambridge Naturals, 
     Cambridge, MA; Emily Kanter, Owner, Cambridge Naturals, 
     Boston, MA; Stephen Katsurlnls, Owner, 8 Dyer Hotel, 
     Provincetown, MA; Sonia Kowal, President, Zevin Asset 
     Management, Boston, MA; Susan Labandlbar, President, Tech 
     Networks of Boston, Cambridge, MA; Mike Lapham, Project 
     Director, Responsible Wealth, Boston, MA.
       Joseph Laur, Owner, MapleMama Beverages, Wendell, MA; Gail 
     Leondar-Wright, Owner, Gail Leondar Public Relations, 
     Arlington, MA; Karen Levy, Owner, Karen Ann Massage, Jamaica 
     Plain, MA; Rob Libon, Investment Advisor, Greenvest, West 
     Whately, MA; Carol Marsh, Owner, Helios Design Group, Jamaica 
     Plain, MA; Philip Mccarron, Owner, Beacon Solar, Fall River, 
     MA; Ann McEwen, Hospital Administrator, Riverbend Animal 
     Hospital, Hadley, MA; Tim McNerney, Founder, Repair 
     Collective, Shutesbury, MA; Kim Mitchell, Owner, Boing! JP's 
     Toy Shop, Jamaica Plain, MA; Nick Moore, Owner, Moore 
     Agencies, Marlborough, MA; Merry Nasser, Partner, Lesser 
     Newman Aleo & Nasser, Northampton, MA; Larry O'Toole, Founder 
     and CEO, Gentle Giant Moving Company, Somerville, MA; Heather 
     Odell, Owner, 3cross Fermentation Cooperative, Worcester, MA; 
     M Older, Owner (Retired), Martha's, Cambridge, MA; John 
     Pepper, Founder, Owner, Boloco, Boston, MA.
       Berit Pratt, CEO, NitWits LLC, Belmont, MA; James Razsa, 
     CEO, Democracy Brewing, Boston, MA; Dan Rosenberg, General 
     Manager, Real Pickles, Greenfield, MA; Joseph Rotella, 
     President, Spencer Organ Company, Waltham, MA; David 
     Sandberg, Owner, Porter Square Books, Cambridge, MA; John 
     Schall, Owner, El Jefe's Taqueria, Cambridge, MA; David 
     Schreiber, Investment Advisor, CFP, Greenvest, Arlington, MA; 
     Cullen Schwarz, Founder/CEO, DoneGood, PBC, Cambridge, MA; 
     Anne Sherman, Director of Operations & Sustainability, Staach 
     Inc., Cambridge, MA; Alex Silva, Owner, Best Value 
     Janitorial, Malden, MA; Joy Silverstein, Owner, Fresh Hair, 
     Jamaica Plain, MA; Harvy Simkovlts, President, Business 
     Wisdom, Lexington, MA; Peter Simpson, Owner, Haymarket Cafe, 
     Northampton, MA; Holly Sklar, CEO, Business for a Fair 
     Minimum Wage, Boston, MA; Peter Smith, Principal, Global 
     Urban Solutions Newton, MA; Rachael Solem, Owner, Irving 
     House at Harvard, Cambridge, MA.
       Alan Solomont, Ambassador (Ret), Formerly Chairman of 
     Solomont Bailis Ventures, Weston, MA; David Starr, Managing 
     Partner, Berkshire Natural, Florence, MA; Dorie Stolley, 
     Owner, Three Birds Consulting, Plymouth, MA; Robert Thomas, 
     Social(k) Inc., Social(k) Inc., Springfield, MA; Sidney 
     Topol, President, The Topal Group, Boston, MA; Marlo Troiani, 
     IT Consultant, MIC, Newton, MA; David Warner, Owner, City 
     Feed and Supply, Boston, MA; Nicola WIiiiams, President, The 
     Williams Agency, Cambridge, MA; Michael Alexander, President, 
     Conscious Living, LLC, Clinton, MD; Bilal Ali, Executive 
     Director, Omnis Health Life Wellness Center, Baltimore, MD; 
     Ned Atwater, Owner, Atwater's Traditional Food, Baltimore, 
     MD; Souley Bah, Owner, Bah Agencies, Lanham, MD; Alissa 
     Barron-Menza, Vice President, Business for a Fair Minimum 
     Wage, Silver Spring, MD; Mitchell Berliner, Owner, Skinny 
     Salamis, Potomac, MD.
       Denise Bowyer, Vice President, American Income Life 
     Insurance Company, North Beach, MD; Holly Budd, PresidenUCEO, 
     Williams & Heintz Map Corporation, Capitol Heights, MD; 
     Andrew Buerger, Owner, B'more Organic, Baltimore, MD; 
     Annebeth Bunker, Owner, Annebeth's, Annapolis, MD; Tim 
     Cureton, Owner, Rise Up Coffee Roasters, Easton, MD; Brian 
     England, President, BA Auto Care, Columbia, MD; Alan 
     Gregerman, President and Chief Innovation Officer, VENTURE 
     WORKS Inc., Silver Spring, MD; Seth Grimes, Owner, Alta Plana 
     Corporation, Takoma Park, MD; Molty Hauck, President, Molly 
     Perkins Hauck, Ph.D., LLC, Rockville, MD; Laura Hodges, 
     Owner, Laura Hodges Studio, Catonsville, MD; Irwin Hoenig, 
     Owner, Living Calmness, Laurel, MD; Dennis Hoffman, Owner, 
     District East, Frederick, MD; Damian Jones, Owner, Aid 
     Through Trade, Annapolis, MD; Jacquelyn Jones Ziegler, Owner, 
     Sugar, Baltimore, MD; Tamira Keith, Owner, Fashion Hangers 
     Boutique, Baltimore, MD; Devora Kimelman-Block, CEO, KOL 
     Foods, Silver Spring, MD.
       Tom Koerber, President, On Point Help, Baltimore, MD; 
     Gabriel Kroiz, Principal, Kroiz Architecture, Baltimore, MD; 
     Jeffrey Landsman, Owner, Specialty Food Sales, Towson, MD; 
     Michael Lastoria, Founder and CEO, &pizza, Baltimore, MD; 
     Ivan Makfinsky, Owner, Endosys, LLC, Montgomery Village, MD; 
     Cerrill Meister, Owner, Eye Candy Opticianry Inc, Baltimore, 
     MD; Nancy Meyer, CEO, Community Forklift, Edmonston, MD; John 
     Mitchell, Owner, Interaction Law, Accokeek, MD; Karim Morsli, 
     Owner, Winkler Automotive Service Center, Gaithersburg, MO; 
     Scott Nash, Owner, CEO, MOM's Organic Market, Rockville, MD; 
     Ellen Reich, Owner, Three Stone Steps, Baltimore, MD; Aaeron 
     Robb, Owner, Ramsay Construction, Baltimore, MD; Glenn 
     Roessler, Business Development Strategist, Vigilante Coffee 
     Company, Hyattsville, MD; Abigail Rome, Owner, Tierra Vista, 
     Silver Spring, MD; Gina Schaefer, Owner, Canton, Federal 
     Hill, Waverly, Old Takoma Ace Hardware Stores, Baltimore, MD; 
     Aaron Seyedian, Owner, Well-Paid Maids, Baltimore, MD; Andy 
     Shallal, Owner, Busboys and Poets Restaurants, Hyattsville, 
     MD.
       Daniel Solomon, Managing Member, Soapstone Investments, 
     Bethesda, MD; Mayaah Tansi, Owner, Unik Touch Hair Palace, 
     Windsor Mill, MD; Richard Torgerson, Registered Principal, 
     SharePower Responsible Investing, Westminster, MD; 
     Christopher Vigilante, Owner, Vigilante Coffee Company, 
     Hyattsville, MD; Eleanor Whalen, CEO, Sprayology, 
     Gaithersburg, MD; Scott Cooper, Director of Finance, Crown 
     O'Maine, North Vassalboro, ME; Steve Corman, Owner, Vena's 
     Fizz House, Portland, ME; Rebecca Darr, Co-Owner, Atayne 
     Brunswick, ME; Susan Farnsworth, Owner, Farnsworth Law Office 
     Hallowell, ME; Michael Landgarten, CEO/Owner, Bob's Clam Hut/
     Lil's Cafe, Kittery, ME; Jonathan Motzkin, Co-Owner, 
     Makewell, Portland, ME; Sharon Peralta, Principal, Custom 
     Computer Services & more, Springvale, ME; Mike Shunney, 
     Owner, Inner Works Center, Rockland, ME; James Wellehan, 
     President, Lamey-Wellehan Shoes, Auburn, ME; Phillis 
     Engelbert, Co-founder & Co-owner, The Lunch Room Diner and 
     Canteen & The Detroit Filling Station, Ann Arbor, MI; Wap 
     John, CEO, Grafaktri Inc., Ann Arbor, MI.

[[Page H7108]]

       Heather Leavitt, Owner, Sweet Heather Anne, Ann Arbor, MI; 
     Katherine Lesse, Co-Owner, Abracadabra Jewelry, Ann Arbor, 
     MI; William Martin, Founder and Director, Bio-Health Centre, 
     Lansing, MI; Joel Panozzo, Co-founder & Co-owner, The Lunch 
     Room Diner and Canteen & The Detroit Filling Station, Ann 
     Arbor, MI; Nat Pernick, CEO, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc., 
     Bingham Farms, MI; Paul Saginaw, Co-Founding Partner, 
     Zingerman's Community of Businesses, Ann Arbor, MI; Scott 
     Urbanowski, Owner, Humanoid Digital, Kentwood, MI; Robert 
     Vogt, CEO, IOSiX, Ypsilanti, MI; Arlys Alford, Owner, Believe 
     You Can Sing!, Eden Prairie, MN; Kevin Brown, Owner, Smart 
     Set, Inc., Minneapolis, MN; Bruce Champeau, President and 
     COO, Room & Board, Golden Valley, MN; Bruce Champeau, 
     President and COO, Room & Board, Edina, MN; Chad Deley, CEO, 
     The Deley Group, Brooklyn Park, MN; Karen Denzel, CEO, 
     Insight Restoration, Plymouth, MN; RJ Devick, President, Bond 
     & Devick Wealth Partners, St Louis Park, MN; Susan Edgington, 
     Owner, Adventure Inn, Ely, MN; Audrey Fairchild-Ehm, Owner, 
     Fairchild-Ehm Foster Care, Roseville, MN.
       Eileen Fisher, Founder, EILEEN FISHER, Edina, MN; Chris 
     Hanson, CEO, thedatabank, gbc, Saint Paul, MN; Melina Lamer, 
     CEO, Superior Switchel, Saint Cloud, MN; Christopher Loch, 
     Owner, CONTEMPLB T-SHIRTS, Minneapolis, MN; Edna McKenzie, 
     CEO, Midwest Select Contracting, Minneapolis, MN; Niel 
     Ritchie, CEO, Main Street Project, Minneapolis, MN; Steven 
     Rothberg, Founder, College Recruiter, Minneapolis, MN; Linh 
     Tu, President, LKT Consulting, Brooklyn Park, MN; Randy 
     Alberhasky, Owner, Randy Alberhasky Attorney At Law, 
     Springfield, MO; Michael Allen, Owner, Blossoms Floral, 
     Springfield, MO; Blanca Anchondo-Polite, Owner, Engage and 
     Connect LLC, Kansas City, MO; Luke Babich, Principal & Chief 
     Strategy Officer, Clever Real Estate, St. Louis, MO; Amy 
     Blansit, Owner, Solely Jolie, Springfield, MO; Priscilla 
     Block, Executive Director, St. Louis ArtWorks, St. Louis, MO; 
     Keith Bradley, Co-Owner, Made in KC, Kansas City, MO; Bethany 
     Budde-Cohen, Owner, SqWires Restaurant, St. Louis, MO; Jordan 
     Carr, Owner, Oddities Prints, Kansas City, MO.
       Jessie Chappell, Owner, CG Immigration Law, St. Louis, MO; 
     Joseph Chevalier, Owner, Yellow Dog Bookshop, Columbia, MO; 
     Pam Clark, Owner, Clark's Appliances, Raytown, MO; Frances 
     Collier, Owner, CEO, River City Rebar LLC, Kansas City, MO; 
     Zaid Consuegra, Owner & Chef, Pirate's Bone, Kansas City, MO; 
     Caitlin Corcoran, Managing Partner, Ca Va, Kansas City, MO; 
     Dominique Davison, Owner & CEO, DRAW Architecture, Kansas 
     City, MO; Fred Domke, President, Bridge Bread Bakery, St. 
     Louis, MO; Nancy Dornan, Owner, Maschino's, Springfield, MO; 
     Mike Draper, Owner, Raygun LLC, Kansas City, MO; Keely 
     Edgington, Owner, Julep Kansas City, MO; Joe Edwards, Owner, 
     The Pageant & Delmar Hall Concert Nightclubs, St. Louis, MO; 
     Joe Edwards, Owner, Blueberry Hill Restaurant & Music Club, 
     St. Louis, MO; James Fields, Owner, Divine Deli and Drop In 
     University, City, MO; Jeff Gold, Owner, Anji Mountain, St. 
     Louis, MO; David Gragg, Agency Owner, David Gragg--Farmers 
     Insurance Agent, Springfield, MO; Blake Green, Owner, BG Law, 
     North Kansas City, MO.
       Howard Hanna, Owner, The Rieger, Kansas City, MO; Ruth 
     Ellen Hasser, Celebrant, St. Louis Ceremonies, St. Louis, MO; 
     Pam Hausner, Owner, Big Vision Design, Kansas City, MO; 
     Notley Hawkins, Owner, Notley Hawkins Photography, Columbia, 
     MO; Cindy Higgerson, Owner, Larder & Cupboard, Maplewood, MO; 
     Craig Hosmer, Owner, Hosmer King & Royce, Springfield, MO; 
     Nate Hunt, Co-Owner, Correa-Hunt Agency, Kansas City, MO; Joe 
     Jackson, Owner and CEO, Jackson Pianos, St. Louis, MO; 
     Dorothy Jones, Owner, Bespoke, St. Louis, MO; Stacy Jurado-
     Miller, Owner, Chief Mission Officer, The Vecino Group, 
     Springfield, MO; Karen Karabell, Managing Partner, S.F. 
     Shannon Real Estate Management LLC, St. Louis, MO; Laurie 
     Knowlton, Owner, Zen3 Spa and Bodyworks, Springfield, MO; 
     Laurie Knowlton, Owner, Pickwick Underground Framing, 
     Springfield, MO; Liz Kuba, Owner, Tea Rex, St. Louis, MO; 
     Matthew Laufketter, Owner, The Ink Spot, St. Louis, MO; Paul 
     Lauritsen, General Manager, Moonrise Hotel, St. Louis, MO.
       Ronnie Light, Owner, Sam Light Loan Co., St. Louis, MO; 
     Leigh Lockhart, Owner, Main Squeeze, Columbia, MO; Katie 
     McCroskey, Co-Owner, Bob McCroskey Real Estate, Inc., 
     Springfield, MO; Andre McCullum, Owner, Hart-McCallum Agency, 
     Earth City, MO; Chris Meyers, Owner, Crane Brewing Company, 
     Raytown, MO; Alyson Miller, Executive Director, Partners for 
     Just Trade, St. Louis, MO; Andrew Montee, Owner, Mokaska 
     Coffee Company, St. Joseph, MO; Erin Noble, VP of Business 
     Operations, StraightUp Solar LLC, St. Louis, MO; Hilary 
     Noonan, Principal, Syntax Land Design, LLC, Kansas City, MO; 
     Dorian Oldham, Owner, Oldham Midwest, Kansas City, MO; Lew 
     Prince, Co-Founder & CEO (Ret.), Vintage Vinyl, St. Louis, 
     MO; Marissa Rosen, Owner, Climate Social, St. Louis, MO; 
     Julie Sommer, Owner & Operating Manager, Sommer Property 
     Investments, LLC, St. Louis, MO; Matthew Thenhaus, Owner & 
     General Manager, The Fortune Teller Bar, St. Louis, MO; Phil 
     Wages, Co-Owner, Wages Brewing Company, West Plains, MO; 
     Peter Wallach, Director, Peter Wallach Fine Art, St. Louis, 
     MO; Nick Ward-Bopp, Owner, Maker Village, Kansas City, MO.
       Bridget Weible, Owner, Flowers to the People, St. Louis, 
     MO; William Handsaker, Partner, C&J Painting, Bozeman, MT; 
     Anne Alexander, Owner, Authentic Alternatives, Inc., Pisgah 
     Forest, NC; Elizabeth Altman, Owner, New Bridge Organic 
     Market, Jacksonville, NC; Philip Chagnon, Owner/Manager, 
     Residential Rental Properties, Raleigh, NC; Kristen Daniels, 
     Owner, Kamibashi Corporation, Leicester, NC; Susan Inglis, 
     Executive Director, Sustainable Furnishings Council, Edenton, 
     NC; Jeffrey Jones, Owner, Rock Hard Media Group, Bolivia, NC; 
     Angela McElwee, President, Gaia Herbs, Brevard, NC; Antonio 
     Reyes, Owner, Reyes Agency, Mathews, NC; Lloyd Smith, 
     President and CEO, Cortech Solutions, Wilmington, NC; Daniel 
     Swimm, Founder, Grow Fragrance, Durham, NC; Gunnar Berg, 
     Partner, Hill People LLC, N. Sandwich, NH; Jessica 
     Christoferson, Owner, Cymbidium Floral, Exeter, NH; Rebecca 
     Hamilton, Co-CEO and Family Owner, W.S. Badger Company, 
     Gilsum, NH; Kyle Swann, Owner, Angelica's Muse, Portsmouth, 
     NH.
       Kris Thieme, Owner, Thieme Agency, Londonderry, NH; Esteve 
     Torrens, CEO, Stonyfield Farm, Londonderry, NH; Bill Whyte, 
     Co-Founder, W.S. Badger Company, Gilsum, NH; Jeffrey 
     Axelbank, Owner, Jeffrey Axelbank, Psy.D., Highland Park, NJ; 
     Alicia Biasotti Belotta, Owner, ACB Consulting Services, 
     Verona, NJ; Mitch Cahn, President, Unionwear, Newark, NJ; 
     Vincent Clyne, Managing Partner, PAIRINGS, Cranford, NJ; 
     James Devine, Owner, CEO, Devine Advertising Associates, 
     Rahway, NJ; Gall Friedberg, Vice President, Zago 
     Manufacturing Company, Newark, NJ; Timothy Glordano, 
     Attorney, Timothy K. Giordano, Esq., Montclair, NJ; Richard 
     Lawton, Founder, Triple Ethos, Point Pleasant Beach, NJ; 
     Richard Lawton, Executive Director, New Jersey Sustainable 
     Business Council, Point Pleasant Beach, NJ; Sally Malanga, 
     CEO, Ecco Bella, West Orange, NJ; Myles Mendoza, Owner & 
     Design Director, Designmaster Group, Edgewater, NJ; Eric 
     Russell, Owner, Drinkable Air Northeast, Basking Ridge, NJ; 
     Andy Smith, Owner, Andy Smith Photography, Newton, NJ; Chet 
     Van Wert, President, Sustainable Business Partners, Scotch 
     Plains, NJ.
       Kelly Vlahakis-Hanks, President and CEO, Earth Friendly 
     Products (Makers of ECOS), Parsippany, NJ; Kimi Wei, CEO, The 
     Wei, Fair Lawn, NJ; Adam Woods, CEO, Camden Printworks, 
     Camden, NJ; Dr. Kathleen Burke, MD, Las Cruces, NM; Beatriz 
     Ferreira, Owner, Paz International, Las Cruces, NM; Elene 
     Gusch, CEO, Kuan Yin Acupuncture, Albuquerque, NM; Linda 
     Lillow, Owner, Triple L, Ink Graphic Design, Albuquerque, NM; 
     Alston Lundgren, Owner (retired), Alston C Lundgren, MD, PC, 
     Santa Fe, NM; Judith Shipsky, President, Solutions!, 
     Albuquerque, NM; Drew Tulchin, Owner, UpSpring, Santa Fe, NM; 
     Anam Kinsey, Owner, BnB SEO, Reno, NV; Corey Neff, Owner, 
     Neff Agency, Las Vegas, NV; Steven Abel, CEO, Center for 
     Mediation & Training, Upper Nyack, NY; Nick Balaban, 
     President, Nick Balaban Music, Inc., Brooklyn, NY; Sebastian 
     Bardin-Greenberg, Owner, Overtime Records, Brooklyn, NY; Dave 
     Bauer, President & Owner, The Change Circle, Inc, 
     Williamsville, NY; David Bolotsky, Founder and CEO, 
     UncommonGoods, Brooklyn, NY.
       Nancy Boyd, President, Bright Wings Inc., Briarcliff Manor, 
     NY; Richard Brook, Member, Meyer, Suozzi, English & Klein, 
     New York, NY; Ann Bryan, Owner, Ann Krupp Designer Goldsmith, 
     Saugerties, NY; Simon Burke-Lipiczky, Owner, Build Smart With 
     Simon, Troy, NY; Linda Christensen, Owner, Blue Quarry 
     Designs, Trumansburg, NY; Jon Cooper, President, Spectronics 
     Corporation, Westbury, NY; Jennifer Dotson, Executive 
     Director, Ithaca Carshare, Ithaca, NY; Marie Duryea, 
     President, Special Instruction, Northport, NY; Kathie Fox, 
     Co-Owner, Fanciful Fox, New York, NY; Jeff Furman, Board 
     Member Emeritus, Ben & Jerry's, Ithaca, NY; Ajax Greene, 
     Founder/CEO, On Belay Business Advisors Inc., Gardiner, NY; 
     Brett Gryska, Owner, Oldham-Gryska Agency, Rochester, NY; 
     Valerie + lhsan Gurdal, Owners, Formaggio Kitchen, New York, 
     NY; Amy Hall, Vice President. Social Consciousness, EILEEN 
     FISHER, Irvington, NY; Susan Hansen, Owner, Hansen's Advisory 
     Services, Inc., Fayetteville, NY; Seth Hirsh, President, 
     Equus Bloodstock LLC, North Woodmere, NY; Kathleen Hoffman, 
     Owner, Law Office of Thomas Hoffman, New York, NY.
       Brian Hogan, Owner, ICT, Bronx, NY; Jeffrey Hollender, 
     Founder, Jeffrey Hollender Partners, New York, NY; Eric 
     Horowitz, Owner, The Double Windsor, Brooklyn, NY; Gintas 
     Janusonis, Owner, Janusonic Music, Brooklyn, NY; Margaret 
     Johnston, Owner, BEZ Services LLC, Binghamton, NY; Heidi 
     Jones, Partner, Allen Street Consulting, Buffalo, NY; Iva 
     Kaufman, Principal, lva Kaufman Associates, New York, NY; 
     Jenny Krauss, President, Jenny Krauss, New York, NY; Carole 
     Laible, CEO, Domini Impact Investments, New York, NY; David 
     Levine, President, American Sustainable Business Council, New 
     York, NY; Paul Lightfoot, CEO, BrightFarms, Inc., New York, 
     NY; Bright Limm, Owner, Principal, Bright D Limm, Esq., 
     Flushing, NY; George McDonald, President, The Doe Fund, New 
     York, NY; Keith Mestrich, President and CEO, Amalgamated 
     Bank, New York, NY; Jeff Mikkelson, Owner, Jeff Mikkelson 
     Photography, New York, NY; Michael Miller, Managing Partner, 
     Rowan Consulting, Howard Beach, NY; Leon Miller-Out, 
     President/CTO, Singlebrook Technology, Ithaca, NY.

[[Page H7109]]

       Prish Moran, Owner, Sweet_ness 7 Cafe, Buffalo, NY; Joshua 
     Morton, Owner, Proof of Concept, LLC, Brooklyn, NY; Ean 
     Murphy, Managing Partner, Moxie Bookkeeping, New York, NY; 
     Michael Owen, Principal, MediaCombo, New York, NY; Clifton 
     Patrick, Owner, Clifton Patrick P&C Insurance, Chester, NY; 
     Del Pedro, Managing Partner, Tooker Alley, Brooklyn, NY; 
     Eleanor Prior, Owner, Prior Beeswax, Germantown, NY; Erwin 
     Rakoczy, Director, CUFF, Clarence, NY; Jan Rhodes Norman, 
     Owner, Silk Oak, Ithaca, NY; Jonathan Rose, President, 
     Jonanthan Rose Companies, New York, NY; Darius Ross, Managing 
     Partner, D Alexander Ross Real Estate Capital Partners, New 
     York, NY; Patrick Rousseau, Owner, Iris MediaWorks, Brooklyn, 
     NY; Lesli Sagan, Owner, Avital's Apiaries, Ithaca, NY; Steven 
     Salsberg, Chairman, Global Access, New York, NY; Jeffrey 
     Scales, Managing Principal, JSA Financial Group, Rhinebeck, 
     NY; Elizabeth Scalisi, Owner/President, Green Effects 
     Landscaping Services, Inc., Manlius, NY; Jason Schuler, 
     Founder and President, Drink More Good, Beacon, NY.
       Elizabeth Schwartz, Co-Owner, Better Speech Now, Long 
     Island City, NY; Dylan Skolnick, Co-Director, Cinema Arts 
     Centre, Huntington, NY; Esther Sokolsky, Co-Owner, Granny 
     Press, Nyack, NY; Simon Thoresen, Owner, Thoresen and Linard 
     Architects, New York, NY; Scott Tillitt, Founder, Antidote 
     Collective, Beacon, NY; Scott Tillitt, Founder, BEAHIVE, 
     Beacon, NY; Brad Walrod, President, Kenoza Type, Inc., Kenoza 
     Lake, NY; Steve Zorn, Racing Manager/Owner, Castle Village 
     Farm, Garden City, NY; Pat Benedure, Owner, The SS Bendure-
     Hartwig Group, Columbus, OH; Nicholas Eastman, President, 
     Electroshield, Yellow Springs, OH; Kevin Holtz, Owner, Holtz 
     Agency, Cincinnati, OH; Gary Johnson, President, AFI 
     Contractors, Toledo, OH; Chris Kloth, Owner, ChangeWorks of 
     the Heartland, Columbus, OH; Steve Mokris, Owner, Kosada, 
     Athens, OH; Matthew Parks, Owner, SS-Parks-Salvaggi Agency, 
     North Royalton, OH; Jim Surace, Owner, Surace-Smith Agency, 
     North Royalton, OH; Paul Akins, Owner, Distinctive Designs 
     Salon, The Village, OK.
       Andrea Anderson, Owner, AM Artistry Printing & Vinyl, 
     Oklahoma City, OK; Dorshak Blok, Owner, Planet Dorshak, 
     Oklahoma City, OK; William Bourne, Owner, Bachle's Fireplace 
     Furnishings, Oklahoma City, OK; Lourdes Chavez, Owner, Dog 
     Dynasty Grooming, Oklahoma City, OK; Ely Cocklin, Owner, BY.E 
     Gallery, Oklahoma City, OK; Michael Dixon, Owner, Earthwise 
     Pet Supply, Oklahoma City, OK; John Dunning, Owner, Trolley 
     Stop Record Shop, Oklahoma City, OK; Jerry Fina, Owner, Dee's 
     Shoe Repair, Oklahoma City, OK; Rex Friend, Attorney at Law, 
     Attorney at Law, Oklahoma City, OK; Gena Goforth, Owner, 
     Architectural Hardware Designs, Oklahoma City, OK; Diana 
     Harris, Owner, Bad Granny's Bazaar, Oklahoma City, OK; Kyle 
     Hix, Owner, Hix Design, Oklahoma City, OK; Angela Hodgkinson, 
     Co-Owner, Solare, Oklahoma City, OK; Anthony Hurndon, Owner, 
     K. Marie's Premium Kutz & Stylez, Oklahoma City, OK; Samuel 
     Jones, Owner, Sammy's Barber Shop, Oklahoma City, OK; Phillip 
     Jordan, Owner, Fitzgerald's Barber & Supply, Oklahoma City, 
     OK; Ron Lira, Owner, Honest Ron's Guitars, Oklahoma City, OK.
       Charles Martin, Owner, Literati Press, Oklahoma City, OK; 
     Richard Mills, Owner, The Scuba Dudes, Oklahoma City, OK; 
     Bryan Moore, Barber, Rooted Barber Shop, Oklahoma City, OK; 
     Pam Nath, Owner, Drybar, Oklahoma City, OK; Jessi Newsome, 
     Co-Owner, OKcollective Candle Co., Oklahoma City, OK; Seth 
     Nun, Owner, AM: Donuts, Oklahoma City, OK; Patrick Patterson, 
     Owner, Prairie Arts Collective, Oklahoma City, OK; Max 
     Radcliffe, Owner, Annex Barber Shop, Oklahoma City, OK; Aadi 
     Rajbhandari, Co-Owner, Fix A Phone, Oklahoma City, OK; 
     Chelsea Ricks, Owner, Chantilly Couture, Oklahoma City, OK; 
     Angel Rivera, Owner, Manhattan Tailors, Oklahoma City, OK; 
     James Scott, Owner, Scott's General Store, Oklahoma City, OK; 
     John Seward, Co-Founder, AMP Variety, Oklahoma City, OK; 
     Mandy Smith, Owner, The Motley Parlour, Oklahoma City, OK; 
     Julie Stanfill, Owner, Julie's Barber Shop, Oklahoma City, 
     OK; Beth Stetson, Weddle Prof. of Accounting, U. of Oklahoma, 
     Norman, OK; Vartan ``Tony'' Tonian, Owner, A1 NW Vacuum & 
     Janitor Supplies, Oklahoma City, OK.
       Eden Turrentine, Owner, Eden, Oklahoma City, OK; Robin 
     Venters, Owner, OKC Music and Sound, Oklahoma City, OK; Paul 
     Windham, Owner, The Mattress Place, Oklahoma City, OK; Pete & 
     Jeanie Barkett, Owner, Vinnie's Pizza, Portland, OR; Adrienne 
     Catone, CEO, Faerie's Dance, Inc., Happy Valley, OR; Daniel 
     Davis, Owner and President, D2X Construction LLC/ D2X 
     Associates, Central Point, OR; Larry Fried, Owner, Do Good 
     Investing, LLC, Eugene, OR; Rosa Gerstner, Owner, Sympatico 
     Clothing, Jacksonville, OR; Nicole Loffler, Owner, Nomadics 
     Tipi Makers, Bend, OR; Kevin Marr, Owner, Motel Del Rogue, 
     Grants Pass, OR; Constance Palaia, Owner, Motel Del Rogue, 
     Grants Pass, OR; Mitch Rofsky, President, Better World Club, 
     Portland, OR; Julie Wasmer, Owner, Food Smart LLC, Corvallis, 
     OR; Dana Weintraub, Owner, Evergreen Sustainability, LLC, 
     Beaverton, OR; Eugene Aleci, Owner, Community Heritage 
     Partners, Lancaster, PA; Simon Arias, Owner, Arias Agencies, 
     Wexford, PA; Benjamin Bingham, CEO, Scarab Funds, 
     Philadelphia, PA.
       Laura Blau, Principal, BluPath Design, Philadelphia, PA; 
     Mark Bortman, Owner, Exact Solar, Yardley, PA; Peg Botto, 
     Owner, Cosmic Catering, Philadelphia, PA; Jonathan Brandow, 
     Owner, BizMiner, Camp Hill, PA; Pelcha Chang, CEO, 
     Vault+Vine, Philadelphia, PA; Matt Cleveland, Owner, 
     Occasions Disc Jockeys, Elizabethtown, PA; Charlie Crystle, 
     Principal, Crystle Consulting, Lancaster, PA; Amy Edelman, 
     Owner, Night Kitchen Bakery, Philadelphia, PA; Jennie Groff, 
     CEO, Stroopies, Inc., Lancaster, PA; Kenny Grono, President, 
     Buckminster Green, Philadelphia, PA; Steve Hackman, Owner, 
     One Village Coffee, Souderton, PA; Michael Lastoria, Founder 
     and CEO, &pizza, Philadelphia, PA; Cindy Lou, Owner, Cindy's 
     Pet Care, Philadelphia, PA; Patrick McMahon, CEO, One Point, 
     Scranton, PA; Scott Nash, Owner, CEO, MOM's Organic Market, 
     Bryn Mawr, PA; Michael O'Connor, Owner, La Barberia 
     Jenkintown, PA; Gerald Onesi, Owner, West Side Auto Repair, 
     Uniontown, PA.
       Jesse Pellman, Co-Owner, Longview Structures Lancaster, PA; 
     Salam Quadrl, Owner, P&Q Partners, Blue Bell, PA; Anna Shipp, 
     Executive Director, Sustainable Business Network of Greater 
     Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA; Brian Taussig-Lux, Co-
     founder, Untours, Media, PA; John Traynor, Owner, Harrisburg 
     Midtown Arts Center, Harrisburg, PA; Ken Weinstein, Owner, 
     Trolley Car Diner, Philadelphia, PA; Peggy Zwerver, Owner, 
     Earth--Bread+ Brewery, Philadelphia, PA; Katie Dyer, Owner, 
     Cadeaux du Mende, Newport, RI; Deborah Schimberg, CEO, Verve, 
     Inc/ Glee Gum, Providence, RI; Lee Barbour, CEO, Avant 
     Garage, Charteston, SC; Judy Doty, Operations Manager & 
     CoFounder, Doty Scientific, Columbia, SC; Jamee Haley, 
     Executive Director, Lowcountry Local First, Charteston, SC; 
     Brady Quirk-Garvan, Owner, Money With A Mission, North 
     Charteston, SC; Mark Tilsen, President & Co-Founder, Native 
     American Natural Foods, Kyle, SD; Richard Aberdeen, 
     President, Freedom Tracks Records, Hermitage, TN; Ruth Black, 
     Owner/Operator, Hidden Springs Nursery, Cookeville, TN.
       Maryanna Clarke, Founding Artistic Director, Tennessee 
     Women's Theater Project, Nashville, TN; Doug Havron, Owner, 
     Gabby's Burgers and Fries, Nashville, TN; MaryAnne Howland, 
     CEO, Ibis, Communications Nashville, TN; Stephen Prince, 
     Owner, Card Marketing Services, Nolensville, TN; Sherry 
     Stewart Deutschmann, Founder, Letterlogic, Inc., Nashville. 
     TN; Malissa Anderson, President, EarthWorksTile, Burnet, TX; 
     Chris Applegate, Owner, SHED Barber and Supply, Austin, TX; 
     Domenico Bertini, Executive Vice President, American Income 
     Life, Waco, TX; Kelly Blanscet, Owner, Graphic Granola, 
     Austin, TX; Beth Carls, CEO, OneSeventeen Media, PBC, Austin, 
     TX; Bruce Champeau, President and COO, Room & Board, Dallas, 
     TX; Ronnie ``Merlot'' Coleman, Jr., Owner, Mer1ot's 
     Barbershop, Houston, TX; Ed Fiedler, Owner, Fiedler On the 
     Roof Construction, Austin, TX; EIieen Fisher, Founder, EILEEN 
     FISHER, Dallas, TX; Steve Greer, CEO, American Income Life/
     National Income Life, Waco, TX; Manlsh Gupta, Owner/CEO, Matr 
     Boomie, Austin, TX; Angela Hudson, Co-Owner, Memorial Music, 
     Houston, TX.
       Cliff Hybarger, Owner, Charde Jewelers, Houston, TX; 
     Michael Jones, Owner, River Oaks Bookstore, Houston, TX; Max 
     Kabat, Co-Founder, goodDog, Marfa, TX; Linda J. Mann, Owner, 
     Old Blue House Antiques, Houston, TX; Amanda May, Owner, The 
     Purple Fig Eco Cleaning Co., Austin, TX; Mike Mulloy, Owner, 
     House of Coffee Beans, Houston, TX; Tuyen Kim Ngyuen, Owner, 
     A One Hour Alteration, Houston, TX; Carol Niemi, Owner, Aloha 
     Services Houston, TX; Leslie Ohayon, Owner, Sacred Leaf 
     Wellness, Houston, TX; Adam Orman, Owner/GM, L'Oca d'Oro, 
     Austin, TX; Manuel Oviedo, Owner, Town & Country Tailors, 
     Houston, TX; Dave Panganiban, Owner, Tea Bar and Organics, 
     Houston, TX; Dorothy Perez, Owner, AIIArt Framing & Gallery, 
     Houston, TX; Cindy Reich, Owner, Whim Boutique, Houston, TX; 
     Mustafa Saleem, Owner, Guyz `N' Style, Houston, TX; Mary 
     Shaffer, Owner, Shaffer Studios, Marfa, TX; Suzanne Smith, 
     Founder, Social Impact Architects, Dallas, TX.
       Michael Vasu, Owner, Vasu Agency, Houston, TX; Melissa 
     Vogt, Managing Director, The Butterfly Bar @ The VORTEX, 
     Austin, TX; Matt Wright, Co-Founder, Little Brother Bar, 
     Austin, TX; Matt Wright, Owner, Better Half Coffee & 
     Cocktails, Austin, TX; Matt Wright, Owner, Wright Bros. Brew 
     & Brew, Austin, TX; Uriel Yoemi, Owner, Custom With Us LLC, 
     Houston, TX; Karim Zltoun, Owner, Sam's Repair, Houston, TX; 
     Ziad Zobaidy, Owner, Ziad's Beauty Salon, Houston, TX; Darwin 
     Crosland, CEO & Founder, Abundant Life Social Services, 
     Syracuse, UT; Barry Clemson, Owner, Cybemetica Press, 
     Norfolk, VA; Bruce Grossberg, owner, Buz and Ned's Real 
     Barbecue, Richmond, VA; Michael Lastoria, Founder and CEO, 
     &pizza, Alexandria, VA; Sandra Leibowitz, Managing Principal, 
     Sustainable Design Consulting, Richmond, VA; Sarah Mason, 
     Owner, Poseidon's Pantry, Chincoteague, VA; Scott Nash, 
     Owner, CEO, MOM's Organic Market, Arlington, VA; James 
     Samans, Executive Member, XENSHA, Alexandria, VA.
       Gina Schaefer, Owner, Old Town Ace Hardware, Alexandria, 
     VA; Andy Shallal, Owner, Busboys & Poets Restaurants, 
     Artington, VA; Yvonne Baab, Owner, Global Gifts, Montpelier, 
     VT; Joey Bergsteln, CEO, Seventh Generation, Burtington, VT; 
     Theodore Casparian, Founder, Sustainable Investing 4 All, 
     Morrisville, VT; Ben Cohen, Co-Founder, Ben and Jerry's, 
     South Burlington, VT; Elizabeth Glenshaw, President, Clean 
     Yield

[[Page H7110]]

     Asset Management Norwich, VT; Patricia C. Heffernan, 
     President and Founder, Marketing Partners Burtington, VT; 
     Jeffrey Hollender, Chairman, Sustain Natural, Burlington, VT; 
     Sascha Mayer, CEO, Mamava, Burtington, VT; Sue Morris, Owner, 
     Editide, Marshfield, VT; Todd Walker, Senior Financial 
     Advisor, Greenvest, Wells, VT; Martin Wolf, Director, Product 
     Sustainability, Seventh Generation, Burlington, VT; Rick 
     Altig, President, Altig International, Redmond, WA; Denise 
     Attwood, Owner, Ganesh Himal Trading, Spokane, WA; Kelly 
     Bell, Founder, Gotham City Drupal, Mossyrock, WA.
       Diane Emerson, Associate, Watershed LLC, Vashon, WA; Kelsey 
     Marshall, Co-Founder, Grounds for Change, Poulsbo, WA; 
     William McColl, Owner, McColl Studio, Blaine, WA; Gage 
     Mitchell, Owner, Principal, Modern Species, Seattle, WA; John 
     Perkins, CEO, Dream Change, Bainbridge Island, WA; Jyoti 
     Stephens, Sustainability and Stewardship Manager, Nature's 
     Path, Richmond, WA; Sash Sunday, Owner, OlyKraut, Olympia, 
     WA; Kelly Vlahakls-Hanks, President and CEO, Earth Friendly 
     Products (Makers of ECOS), Lacey, WA; Bruce Wade, Owner, 
     Taurus Tech, Mount Vernon, WA; Eric Yarnell, President, Heron 
     Botanicals, Kingston, WA; Michael Katz, President, Molded 
     Dimensions, Port Washington, WI; Gary Lemke, Owner, Gary L. 
     Lemke Landscaping, Potter, WI; Margaret May, Owner, May 
     Educational Psychology, Richland Center, WI; Jerry McGeorge, 
     Vice President of Cooperative Affairs, Organic Valley, La 
     Farge, WI; Jerry Moors, Senior VP of Sales, Springs Window 
     Fashions, Middleton, WI; Mary Stelletello, Founder, Vista 
     Global Coaching & Consulting, Madison, WI.

  Mr. TRONE. Mr. Speaker, I have a unique perspective on this issue. I 
was a businessman. Before I ran for Congress, I founded a small 
business with just a few employees. Now, I own a business with over 
7,000 employees in 25 States.
  At my company, we understand that if you take care of your team 
members by paying them a living wage, they will take care of our 
customers, and our business will do better because of it. Everyone 
wins.
  This isn't hypothetical for me. My business operates in many cities, 
like Seattle, with a $15 minimum wage. When the laws changed, we didn't 
cut jobs, and our business did not suffer. Quite the opposite.
  When we raise the wage, we see 1.3 million Americans lifted out of 
poverty, 600,000 of whom are children; we see families who can afford 
their rent, healthcare, and other necessities; and we see a stronger 
economy.
  When we raise the wage, we see a win for business, a win for working 
families, and a win for our economy.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Scott for his leadership on this 
critically important issue, and I urge my colleagues to support this 
bill.
  Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Perry).
  Mr. PERRY. Mr. Speaker, I started, like many folks did, working when 
I was a young man. People have different reasons for seeking 
employment. I needed to get out of the house, as some things were 
happening at the house, but I didn't have any skills.
  I rode my bike to a nearby farm, and I picked fruit. I didn't make 
minimum wage because I couldn't pick fruit fast enough, because I 
didn't have the skills to do that when I was 13 years old, but I 
learned to show up on time with a good attitude. That is a valuable 
thing. That is where we start out.
  That job wouldn't have been available if this minimum wage of $15, 
enacted from the Federal level, would have forced that employer to make 
a choice whether they hired me or hired somebody else. I didn't want to 
make the minimum wage. I wanted to make the maximum wage, but I had to 
have some skills.
  The next job I got still wasn't minimum wage, but I worked hard. Now, 
I had the skill of showing up on time with a good attitude. I kept on 
doing better and better and better for myself because the jobs were 
available.
  Mr. Speaker, if this legislation is enacted, young people and people 
at the bottom of the economic spectrum that we are trying to help are 
not going to have that opportunity. That is what this is really about 
in America, having opportunity.
  A minimum wage requirement from the Federal level doesn't draw any 
distinctions between Los Angeles and Gratz, Pennsylvania, a great 
little town that I am privileged to represent. It doesn't draw a 
distinction between Chicago or Shiremanstown. It says they all have to 
do the same thing. Dover or New York, all the same wage, really.
  I don't have tall skyscrapers in central Pennsylvania like they do in 
New York City, Chicago, and L.A., but I have hardworking people who 
want the opportunity that is provided by the market.
  There are 7.5 million jobs open right now. The market is providing 
the wages to incentivize people to come to them, and they have an 
opportunity to go to another job and make even more under the free 
market.
  The Federal Government is going to stifle that with this $15 an hour 
minimum wage.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge us not to vote for this bill.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I remind my colleague that his 
vote against this bill is a vote to deny about 35 percent of the 
workers in his district in Pennsylvania an average raise of about 
$3,200 a year.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania 
(Ms. Wild), a distinguished member of the Committee on Education and 
Labor.
  Ms. WILD. Mr. Speaker, there should not be anybody in this room 
arguing that $7.25 an hour is sufficient for a worker's well-being. 
When adjusted for inflation, $7.25 is less than the Federal minimum 
wage of 50 years ago.
  I support this bill because 98,000 workers in my district in 
Pennsylvania deserve a long-overdue raise. We are now in the midst of 
the longest period of time without an increase to the Federal minimum 
wage.
  I support this bill because, while corporations are making record 
profits off the backs of workers, wage stagnation and increased cost of 
living have bankrupted hardworking families across my district.
  This bill would increase the minimum wage gradually.
  This is not a ``bad for business'' piece of legislation, as my 
colleagues across the aisle allege. It is a ``good for everyone'' bill 
that puts more money into our workers' pockets.
  Our colleagues of the past would be baffled by the opposition to this 
bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds 
to the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania.
  Ms. WILD. The Federal Labor Standards Act was passed in 1938 for the 
explicit purpose of protecting workers from substandard wages. That 
landmark bill passed the House by a vote of 291-89.
  By the letter of that law, the minimum standard of living necessary 
for a worker's well-being is in Congress' hands. Members of both 
parties chose not to leave it up to market forces because poverty-level 
wages, sweatshops, and poor working conditions should not happen in the 
United States of America in 1938 or in 2019.
  Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Wright).
  Mr. WRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 582, the Raise 
the Wage Act, or, as it should be called, the Raising Unemployment for 
American Workers Act.
  I was disappointed to hear that Democratic members on the Rules 
Committee failed to make my amendment in order. The amendment 
prohibited H.R. 582 from going into effect if the Government 
Accountability Office found that over 500,000 jobs would be lost to 
automation as a direct result of this legislation, a very reasonable 
amendment.

  This amendment was intended to make sure that, in seeking to improve 
economic outcomes for workers, especially lower-wage and lesser-skilled 
workers, we don't adopt policies that have the opposite effect.
  This radical legislation would more than double the Federal minimum 
wage, the largest-ever increase since its creation. The recent 
Congressional Budget Office report on this bill paints a bleak picture 
of the consequences if it ever becomes law.
  When fully implemented, this legislation would result in as many as 
3.7 million, almost 270,000 from the State of Texas, jobs lost. Across 
the country, total real family income would drop by $9 billion.
  At a time when the economy is expanding, wages are rising above 
inflation, and unemployment is the lowest it has been in decades, we 
should not be considering job-killing, income-reducing legislation.

[[Page H7111]]

  The negative impacts of such a disastrous bill would be felt in high-
income urban areas, but they would be even more severe in lower income 
rural areas. The economic conditions of Navarro County, Texas, in my 
district, where the median income is $45,000 a year, are not the same 
as San Francisco, where the median income is more than double that. A 
federally mandated doubling of the minimum wage would burden these 
people and businesses, forcing them to cut hours, let employees go, and 
close business doors.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
  Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 15 
seconds to the gentleman from Texas.
  Mr. WRIGHT. My colleagues across the aisle like to point to the 
number of people who will be lifted out of poverty but consistently 
fail to acknowledge that the same number of Americans are expected to 
lose their jobs. It seems to me that this bill is a sweet deal, but 
only if you get to keep your job.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to how much time 
is left on both sides.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Virginia has 10\1/2\ 
minutes remaining. The gentlewoman from North Carolina has 2\1/2\ 
minutes remaining.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I remind my colleague from Texas 
that a vote against this bill is a vote to deny about 30 percent of the 
workers in his district in Texas an average raise of about $3,800 a 
year.
  I also will point out that the same CBO report that he cited cites 
the three most recent studies showing the number of jobs will actually 
go up as a direct result of the passage of this bill, and 27 million 
people are getting a raise.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Massachusetts 
(Mrs. Trahan), a distinguished member of the Committee on Education and 
Labor.
  Mrs. TRAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a letter from 
women's community groups in support of this legislation.

                                                    July 15, 2019.
     Pass the Raise the Wage Act

       Dear Members of Congress: As members of a broad coalition 
     of organizations that promote economic security and equity 
     for women, we strongly urge you to pass the Raise the Wage 
     Act as a top priority of the 116th Congress.
       The Raise the Wage Act will raise the federal minimum wage 
     from $7.25 to $15 an hour by 2024, then index the minimum 
     wage so that it continues to rise along with wages overall. 
     It will also end unfair exclusions for tipped workers, people 
     with disabilities, and youth so that they, too, can benefit 
     from a decent minimum wage.
       Women across the country--especially women of color--
     continue to experience a pay gap and a higher risk of poverty 
     than men. Women working full time, year round typically make 
     only 80 percent of what their male counterparts make, leaving 
     a wage gap of 20 cents on the dollar. This wage gap varies by 
     race and is larger for women of color: Black women working 
     full time, year round typically make only 61 cents, Native 
     women only 58 cents, and Latinas only 53 cents, for every 
     dollar paid to their white, non-Hispanic male counterparts. 
     While Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) women make 
     85 cents for every dollar paid to white, non-Hispanic men, 
     many AAPI communities experience drastically wider pay gaps.
       Women's overrepresentation in low-wage jobs is a driving 
     force behind the gender pay gap. Women are close to two-
     thirds of the workforce in jobs that pay the minimum wage or 
     just a few dollars above it, as well as two-thirds of workers 
     in tipped jobs. Women of color are particularly 
     overrepresented among tipped workers and other low-wage 
     workers. They are particularly harmed by the $7.25 federal 
     minimum wage that has not gone up in a decade and by the 
     $2.13 tipped minimum cash wage that has been frozen for an 
     astonishing 28 years.
       Poverty-level wages heighten women's economic 
     vulnerability, which in turn heightens their vulnerability to 
     sexual harassment on the job. Women who rely on tips to 
     survive often feel compelled to tolerate inappropriate 
     behavior from customers so as not to jeopardize their income 
     and employers are often unwilling to protect their employees 
     for fear of upsetting a paying customer. Women's lack of 
     economic power in these workplaces perpetuates the already 
     pervasive culture of sexual harassment in industries that 
     employ large numbers of tipped workers.
       The Raise the Wage Act is critically needed to advance 
     women's economic security and dignity in the workplace. The 
     Economic Policy Institute estimates that increasing the 
     federal minimum wage to $15 by 2024 would give nearly one in 
     three working women a raise, including 41 percent of Black 
     working women, 38 percent of working Latinas, 29 percent of 
     white working women, and 18 percent of Asian working women.
       Women and people of color have been left behind by our 
     economy and our policies far too often, for far too long. 
     Adopting the Raise the Wage Act would mark a crucial step 
     toward ensuring they can work with equity, dignity, and 
     safety. There is no more fitting way to begin this historic 
     Congress than by making real, concrete progress in ensuring 
     all women receive adequate pay.
       We urge you to prioritize the Raise the Wage Act in the 
     116th Congress by swiftly passing this legislation.
           Sincerely,
       9to5, National Association of Working Women; 9to5 Georgia; 
     A Better Balance; Abortion Access Front; ACCESS; African 
     American Health Alliance; All-Options; Amara Legal Center; 
     American Association of University Women (AAUW); American 
     Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees 
     (AFSCME).
       American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO; AFT Local 1766 
     (Union of Rutgers Administrators); American Medical Student 
     Association; American Psychological Association; Americans 
     for Democratic Action (ADA); Arizona Coalition to End Sexual 
     & Domestic Violence; Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, 
     AFL-CIO; Black Women's Roundtable; MS Black Women's 
     Roundtable; Bucks County Women's Advocacy Coalition.
       California Child Care Resource & Referral Network; 
     Cambridge Committee to Raise the Minimum Wage; Caring Across 
     Generations; Center for American Progress; Center for 
     Frontline Retail; Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP); 
     Center for Popular Democracy; Chelsea Collaborative; Citizen 
     Action of New York; Clearinghouse on Women's Issues.
       Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW); California Capital 
     Chapter, CLUW; Capital Area Chapter, CLUW; Chesapeake Bay 
     Chapter, CLUW; Chicago Chapter, CLUW; Cleveland Chapter, 
     CLUW; Florida Chapter, CLUW; Genesee County Chapter, CLUW; 
     Grand Prairie Arlington Chapter, CLUW; Greater Kansas City 
     Chapter, CLUW.
       Greater New Jersey Chapter, CLUW; Greater Oklahoma City 
     Chapter, CLUW; Houston Chapter, CLUW; Kate Mullany Chapter, 
     CLUW; King County Chapter, CLUW; Lorain County Chapter, CLUW; 
     Los Angeles Chapter, CLUW; Metro-Detroit Chapter, CLUW; 
     Metropolitan District of Columbia Chapter, CLUW; Missouri 
     Chapter, CLUW.
       Northeast Cleveland Chapter, CLUW; Pennsylvania State 
     Chapter, CLUW ; Philadelphia Chapter, CLUW; Rhode Island 
     Chapter, CLUW; San Diego Chapter, CLUW; San Francisco 
     Chapter, CLUW; Southwestern Pennsylvania Chapter, CLUW; St. 
     Louis Chapter, CLUW; Western New York Chapter, CLUW; Western 
     Virginia Chapter, CLUW.
       Coalition on Human Needs; Color of Change; Connecticut 
     Women's Education and Legal Fund (CWEALF); Criminalization of 
     Poverty Project at the Institute for Policy Studies; Day One; 
     Domestic Violence Legal Empowerment & Appeals Project; 
     Economic Opportunity Institute; Empire Justice Center; Equal 
     Rights Advocates; Equality North Carolina.
       Equality Ohio; Fair World Project; Federally Employed 
     Women; Feminist Majority Foundation; Food Chain Workers 
     Alliance; Forward Together; Found Objects Transformed; 
     Friends Committee on National Legislation; Futures Without 
     Violence; Gender Justice.
       Health Care for America Now; If/When/How: Lawyering for 
     Reproductive Justice; Illinois Coalition Against Sexual 
     Assault; In Our Own Voice: National Black Women's 
     Reproductive Justice Agenda; Innovation Ohio Education Fund; 
     Institute for Women's Policy Research; Interfaith Worker 
     Justice; Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action; Jewish 
     Women International; Jobs With Justice; Jobs With Justice, 
     Cleveland; Jobs With Justice, St Joseph Valley Project.
       Justice for Migrant Women; Kentucky Equal Justice Center; 
     Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA); Las 
     Hermanas USA; Laundry Workers Center; Legal Momentum, The 
     Women's Legal Defense and Education Fund; Maine Women's 
     Lobby; Massachusetts Voter Table; Milwaukee Area Service & 
     Hospitality Workers Organization (MASH); Mississippi 
     Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
       MNCASA; Moms Demand Action, Triad North Carolina; 
     MomsRising; NAACP; NARAL Pro-Choice, North Carolina; National 
     Alliance to End Sexual Violence; National Asian Pacific 
     American Women's Forum (NAPAWF); National Association of 
     Social Workers, Massachusetts Chapter; National Center for 
     Lesbian Rights; National Coalition for the Homeless.
       National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Central Ohio 
     Chapter; National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Queen City 
     Metropolitan Chapter; National Committee on Pay Equity; 
     National Council of Jewish Women; National Council of Jewish 
     Women, Arizona; National Council of Jewish Women, Greater New 
     Orleans; National Council of Jewish Women, Pennsylvania; 
     National Domestic Workers Alliance; National Employment Law 
     Project; National Employment Lawyers Association.
       National Immigration Law Center; National Institute for 
     Reproductive Health (NIRH); National LGBTQ Task Force Action 
     Fund; National Network of Abortion Funds; National 
     Organization for Women (NOW);

[[Page H7112]]

     NOW, Louisiana; NOW, North Carolina; NOW, Raleigh; NOW, 
     Southwest Pennsylvania; NOW, Triad North Carolina.
       National Partnership for Women & Families; National Women's 
     Law Center; National Women's Health Network; NETWORK Lobby 
     for Catholic Social Justice; Nevada Coalition to End Domestic 
     and Sexual Violence; New Mexico Coalition of Sexual Assault 
     Programs; New Voices for Reproductive Justice; New York Union 
     Child Care Coalition; North Carolina State AFL-CIO; North 
     Carolina Women United.
       Nurses for Sexual and Reproductive Health; Ohio Alliance to 
     End Sexual Violence; Ohio Domestic Violence Network; Ohio 
     Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice; Oklahoma Women's 
     Coalition; Organization United for Respect; Oxfam America; 
     Path Ways PA; Pennsylvania NOW; People For the American Way.
       PHENOM (Public Higher Education Network of Massachusetts); 
     Physicians for Reproductive Health; PL+US: Paid Leave for the 
     United States; PowHer New York; Project IRENE; Public Justice 
     Center; PWN-USA; Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities 
     Coalition; Restaurant Opportunities Centers United; 
     Restaurant Opportunities Center, Pennsylvania.
       Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United 
     States (SIECUS); Shriver Center on Poverty Law; Solace Crisis 
     Treatment Center; Tennessee Valley Coalition to End 
     Homelessness; Tewa Women United; The Women's Law Center of 
     Maryland; Union for Reform Judaism; Unitarian Universalist 
     Mass Action Network; United Church of Christ, Justice and 
     Witness Ministries; United for A Fair Economy.
       United Democratic Women of MD, Inc.; URGE: Unite for 
     Reproductive & Gender Equity; V.I. Domestic Violence & Sexual 
     Assault Council; Valencia Shelter Services; Vermont Network 
     Against Domestic and Sexual Violence; Voices for Progress; 
     Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Urban 
     Affairs; Washington State Coalition of Sexual Assault 
     Programs; West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy; Western 
     Center on Law and Poverty.
       Women & Girls Foundation of Southwest Pennsylvania; Women 
     Employed; Women Lawyers of Sacramento; Women of Reform 
     Judaism; Women's Law Project; Women's Rights and Empowerment 
     Network; Women's Medical Fund, Pennsylvania; WomenRising, 
     Inc.; Working Washington/Fair Work Center; Workplace 
     Fairness.
       WV FREE; Yellowhammer Fund; YWCA USA; YWCA, Dayton; ZERO TO 
     THREE.

                              {time}  1030

  Mrs. TRAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to give 
more than 33 million deserving Americans a raise by voting for the 
Raise the Wage Act.
  I want to commend Chairman Scott and his staff for their outstanding 
work to get us to this point.
  The current Federal minimum wage rate hasn't budged in a decade, but 
basic costs have, and they have dramatically. It is an affront to basic 
fairness and an intolerable conditions for families working hard yet 
falling further and further behind.
  They live on a razor's edge facing impossible choices:
  Paying the rent or the car;
  Buying diapers and formula for their children or medication for 
themselves;
  Cutting a check for a student loan debt payment or a doctor's visit.
  Today, a single mother with two children working full-time at $7.25 
an hour is living well below the Federal poverty line. We can fix that 
by voting to give her a raise.
  Let's do the same for the rest of America by passing the Raise the 
Wage Act. It is long overdue.
  Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Velazquez), the chair of the Committee 
on Small Business.
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I am from New York, and I rise in support 
of the Raise the Wage Act of 2019 for workers in my district and 
workers everywhere, particularly rural America.
  The Raise the Wage Act is a long overdue minimum wage increase that 
will lift wages for millions of Americans and boost the small business 
economy.
  Today, under the current minimum wage of just $7.25 per hour, 
American workers and their families are living on the margins. They 
spend nights at the dinner table having to decide whether to pay for 
their child's school trip or groceries for the week.
  If we are to build a better economy for all Americans, we must ensure 
that our workers can make a good living and have a good life.
  Poll after poll shows that small business owners support raising the 
minimum wage. This is because doing so has been proven to help small 
firms better retain employees who, in turn, are more productive and 
higher performing.
  Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a sign-on statement from 
Business for a Fair Minimum Wage.

     Business for a Fair Minimum Wage Federal $15 Sign On Statement

       As business owners and executives, we support gradually 
     raising the federal minimum wage to $15 by 2024. It's good 
     for business, good for customers and good for our economy.
       Workers are also customers. Today's $7.25 minimum wage--
     just $15,080 a year for full-time workers--doesn't even cover 
     the basics. Raising the minimum wage puts money in the 
     pockets of people who most need to spend it, increasing sales 
     at businesses and boosting the economy.
       Raising the minimum wage makes good business sense. Low pay 
     typically means high turnover. Raising the minimum wage pays 
     off in lower employee turnover, reduced hiring and training 
     costs, lower error rates, increased productivity and better 
     customer service. Employees often make the difference between 
     repeat customers or lost customers.
       Raising the minimum wage is smart policy. It will reduce 
     the strain on the safety net caused by wages that people 
     can't live on. It will help level the playing field for 
     businesses and strengthen the consumer spending businesses 
     depend on to thrive.


          About 1,000 Signers and Counting as of July 17, 2019

       Holly Sklar, CEO, Business for a Fair Minimum Wage; Jen 
     Landry, Owner, Steller Botanical Health, Gustavus, AK; 
     Phillip Austin, Owner, DJ Cabinetry Tuscaloosa, AL; Eddie 
     Babies, Owner, Eddie B's Barber Shop Montgomery, AL; Varis 
     Berry, Owner, New Beginning Barber & Style Montgomery, AL; 
     Larry Bethune, Owner, Brenda's BBQ, Montgomery, AL; Joseph 
     Bradley, Co-Owner, Sidekicks Sneaker Shop, Birmingham, AL; 
     Tahera Broadnax, Owner, The Hair Day Birmingham, AL; David 
     Brown, Owner, Manitou Supply, Birmingham, AL; Stephanie 
     Brown, Owner, Hue Studio, Montgomery, AL; Dawn Cassizzi, 
     Owner, Beacon Yoga, Birmingham, AL; Michael Crayton, Owner, 
     MandE Suits, Montgomery, AL.
       Robert Dean, Owner, Momma Goldberg's Deli, Homewood, AL; 
     Adriane Dunson, Owner, Cora Bella LLC, Tuscaloosa, AL; Newman 
     Evans, Owner, Newman's Classic Cuts, Birmingham, AL; Dan 
     Hall, Owner, Queen City Cycles, Tuscaloosa, AL; Benita Hall, 
     Owner, Shaebreezy Beauty Bar, Montgomery, AL; Carla Hamilton, 
     Owner, Four Comers Gallery, Birmingham, AL; James Harris, 
     President, Harvest Midwest, Birmingham, AL; Tim Hicks, Owner, 
     Veteran Cuts Barber Shop, Montgomery, AL; Ashraf Hijaz, 
     Owner, Beauty & Beyond, Montgomery, AL; Justin Holt, Owner, 
     Dotson's Burger Spot, Tuscaloosa, AL; Jose lzaguarre, Owner, 
     TechniGO, Tuscaloosa, AL; Nate Johnson, Owner, Teamwork 
     Barber Shop, Selma, AL; Walter L Johnson Sr., Owner, Village 
     East Shoe Center, Montgomery, AL; Raymond Josof, Owner, Five 
     Points Hotdogs, Birmingham, AL; Melissa Kendrick, CEO, 
     Sojourns, Birmingham, AL; Uluybell Khorsanov, Owner, Prof 
     Alterations, Tuscaloosa, AL; Dr. Jerry Kirby, Owner, Kirby 
     Chiropractic Clinic, Montgomery, AL; LaKeitha Knox, Owner, 
     The Head Doctor, Tuscaloosa, AL; Nicholas Lewis, Owner, Tha 
     Cutting Zone, Tuscaloosa, AL; Brandon MacDonald, Owner, 
     MacDonald Insurance Group, Birmingham, AL; Alexis Martin, 
     Owner, Lex Couture Boutique, Selma, AL; Charli Matthews, CEO, 
     Empowering Brands, Tuscaloosa, AL; Marisa Mitchell, Owner, 
     Swaddle, Birmingham, AL; Kenya Mitchell, Owner, SKT Hair 
     Salon, Selina, AL; Byong Hyon Moon, Owner, Tuny Custom T-
     shirts, Montgomery, AL.
       Naboo A. Obeird, Owner, Makano's Kabob Express, Birmingham, 
     AL; Derrick Paoletto, Owner, The Record Stop, Montgomery, AL; 
     Salisha Parker, Owner, This & That LLC, Selma, AL; Kirsten 
     Perry, Owner, KD Bridal & Prom, Selma, AL; Brittney Powell, 
     Owner, Kay Couture, Montgomery, AL; Jim Reed, Owner, Reed's 
     Book Store, Birmingham, AL; Katie Rengers, Director and 
     Vicar, The Abbey, Birmingham, AL; Juan Rivera, Owner, 
     Rivera's Barber Shop, Northport, AL; Jim Robertson, Owner, 
     Robertson's Health Food Center, Northport, AL; Betty Rollins, 
     Owner, Cloverdale Laundry & Dry Cleaners, Montgomery, AL; 
     Chris Roycroft, Owner, Olive Tree, Tuscaloosa, AL; Vanessa 
     Sanders, Owner, Kut N Go, Montgomery, AL; Craig Shaw, Owner, 
     True Story Brewing Co., Birmingham, AL.
       William Sheppard, Owner, Sheppard's Pet Supply, Birmingham, 
     AL; Muhammad Sikander, Owner, Shoe Times, Montgomery, AL; 
     Mellissa Smith, Owner, Island Delight, Montgomery, AL; 
     Jarrell Smith, Owner, Cutz & Budz, Montgomery, AL; Gregory 
     Smitherman, Owner, Anatomy of Pi, Dora, AL; Justin Snipes, 
     Owner, The Comic Strip, Tuscaloosa, AL; Casey Snipes, Owner, 
     Trxi Vintage, Birmingham, AL; Mark Snyder, Owner, Mark's 
     Joint Restaurant, Homewood, AL; Robby Spaeth, Owner, Capital 
     City Tire & Auto Sales, Montgomery, AL; Curtis Starks, Co-
     owner, Train & Burn, Birmingham, AL; Cheri Stewart, Owner, 
     Trim Tab Brewing, Birmingham, AL; Deon Trone, Owner, Deon's 
     Style & Barber Shop, Tuscaloosa, AL; Deon Trone, Owner, 
     Deon's Automotive, Tuscaloosa, AL; Teresa Vickrey,

[[Page H7113]]

     Owner, Natural Healing, Montgomery, AL; Johnny Weatherspoon, 
     Owner, Style Connection Barber Shop, Tuscaloosa, AL; LaTesha 
     Wells, Owner, Salon Ambience, Tuscaloosa, AL; Christie White, 
     Owner, Arcadia Salon, Birmingham, AL; Tim Williamson, Owner, 
     Carter Drug, Selma, AL; Kandice Wright, Owner, Hair by 
     Kandice, Tuscaloosa, AL; Bradley Wyatt, Owner, Copper Top, 
     Tuscaloosa, AL; Blake Ralston, Owner, Ralston Agency, Fort 
     Smith, AR; Steve Svendson, Owner, Svendson Agency, Rogers, 
     AR; Daniel Aguilera, Owner, 480 Barber Shop, Chandler, AZ; 
     Janice Brian, Owner, Alley Cats Haircutting Salon, Flagstaff, 
     AZ; Malcolm Bates, Owner, Rogue Antiques Retro and Vintage, 
     Flagstaff, AZ.
       Paula Beltran, Owner, V.I. Alterations & Tailoring, Mesa, 
     AZ; Rita Burnette, Owner, Make-U-Mobile, Mesa, AZ; Eric Cady, 
     Co-Owner, Chupacabra Taproom, Mesa, AZ; Francisco Carlos, 
     Owner, Cabinets by Design, Phoenix, AZ; Cartiye Carter, 
     Owner, 24K Hair Spa, Phoenix, AZ; Jorge Castillo, Co-Owner, 
     The Gaming Zone, Tempe, AZ; Alison Chandler, Co-Owner, Noble 
     Beast Pet Market, Phoenix, AZ; Abel Chavez, Owner, Chavez 
     Barber Shop, Tempe, AZ; Shang Syun Chiu, Owner, Dealer 
     Electronics, Mesa, AZ; Natalie Clark, Owner, AZ Lash Lady, 
     Chandler, AZ; Kimberly Clarke, Owner, Solstice Intimates, 
     Tempe, AZ; Mark Cosmas, Owner, iRun, Phoenix, AZ.
       Phil Costa, Owner, Unique Pianos, Phoenix, AZ; Lauren 
     Danuser, Owner, Local Nomad, Phoenix, AZ; Daniel DeHoyos, 
     Owner, Fritz's Barbershop, Mesa, AZ; Eileen Fisher, Founder, 
     EILEEN FISHER, Scottsdale, AZ; Alfredo Flores, Owner, Watch & 
     Jewelry Repair, Tempe, AZ; Farrell Friedland, President, 
     Professional Alternatives of Arizona, LLC, Scottsdale, AZ; 
     Justin Fultz, Owner, Let Us Floor You, Inc, Chandler, AZ; 
     Gina Galaviz, Co-Owner, Flag T Factory, Flagstaff, AZ; 
     Kristin Garcia, Owner, Purge Love Peace Rage Room, Chandler, 
     AZ; Brenda Hackman, Co-Owner, EmbroidMe, Phoenix, AZ; Tim 
     Hackman, Co-Owner, EmbroidMe, Phoenix, AZ; Billy Halton, Co-
     Owner, Casa Grande Dry Cleaning, Casa Grande, AZ.
       Eddie Hantas, Owner, Hummus Express, Tempe, AZ; Lamar 
     Harris, Co-Owner, Get Sassy Beauty Supply, Chandler, AZ; 
     Nicholas Harron, Owner, 1UPGames, Mesa, AZ; Fahima Hassan, 
     Owner, Khyber Halal, Phoenix, AZ; Dionne Hauke, Owner, 
     Ziggie's Music, Phoenix, AZ; Jason Hemann, Owner, Kitchen AZ, 
     Chandler, AZ; Gabrielle Hopkins, Owner, Food Diva AZ, 
     Chandler, AZ; Gabrielle Hopkins, Owner, Wild Elk Den, 
     Chandler, AZ; Jeannette Housner, Owner, Dion's Le Wig Shoppe, 
     Scottsdale, AZ; Skip Jones, Owner, Caveman Printing & 
     Apparel, Mesa, AZ; Brad Keeling, Owner, Maroney's Cleaners & 
     Laundry, Phoenix, AZ.
       Brad Keeling, President, OrganiCare, Phoenix, AZ; Danyelle 
     Kimbell, Owner, Just In Time Hair Design, Chandler, AZ; 
     Anthony Kyhn, Owner, Salon Red Arcadia, Phoenix, AZ; Adele 
     LaVoie, Owner, French Method Salon, Phoenix, AZ; Cenobio 
     Lopez, Owner, Nancy's Jewelry and Clothing, Chandler, AZ; 
     Alison Lueders, CEO, Great Green Content, Phoenix, AZ; David 
     Luna, Owner, Luna's Hair & Barbershop, Mesa, AZ; Treasure 
     Mandley, Owner, HairADize, Chandler, AZ; Nancy J. McCulla, 
     Owner, Simply Delicious Catering & Cafe Daily Fare, 
     Flagstaff, AZ; Edmundo Meraz, Co-Owner, Republica Empanada, 
     Mesa, AZ; Scott Miner D.C., Owner, OMNI Chiropractic, Tempe, 
     AZ; Kim Natori, Founder, Let's Begin Again, Phoenix, AZ; 
     Maria Ortiz, Owner, La Nortenita, Flagstaff, AZ; Heather 
     Phalan, Owner, All Awards Studio, Flagstaff, AZ; Meir 
     Pinhkasov, Owner, Brooklyn'z Barbershop LLC, Phoenix, AZ; 
     Turney Postlewait, Owner, Biff's Bagels' Flagstaff, AZ; Urban 
     Quintero, Co-Owner, Quintero Jewelry, Chandler, AZ; Leo 
     Ramirez, Co-Owner, Sa Morz Bakery, Casa Grande, AZ;Alma 
     Reyes, Owner, Isela's Beauty Salon, Chandler, AZ; Dianne 
     Ripplinger, Owner, Di's Hair & Nail Salon, Mesa, AZ; Laurel 
     Roach, Owner, Trifit Wellness, Phoenix, AZ; John Rooney, Co-
     Owner, Adventures in Stained Glass, Casa Grande, AZ; Michael 
     Roviello, Owner, Andromeda LLC, Phoenix, AZ; Sergio Sanchez, 
     Owner, Crates Records, Phoenix, AZ; Michael Spangenberg, 
     Owner, State Forty Eight, Chandler, AZ; Wayne B. Taylor, 
     President, Taylor's Flooring, Mesa, AZ.
       Bob Thomas, Owner, Bob's Tropical Inc., Phoenix, AZ; Chris 
     Thomas, Owner, Universal Cuts & Design, Mesa, AZ; Paul Torok, 
     CEO, PS YES LLC, Phoenix, AZ; Harold Torres, President, Hair 
     2 Day, Tempe, AZ; Pete Turner, Owner, Illegal Pete's 
     Restaurants, Tucson, AZ; Alvaro Valentin, Owner, Fresh As Can 
     ``V'', Chandler, AZ; Dan Vasquez, Owner, Dapper Dan's Barber 
     Shop, Scottsdale, AZ; Dustin Venekamp, Owner, Altig-Venekamp 
     Agency, Phoenix, AZ; Marie Verdugo, Owner, NuYou Life Center, 
     Phoenix, AZ; Jamie Warner, Co-Owner, Yellow Jacket Comics 
     LLC, Tempe, AZ; Brittany Weir, Owner, The Mad Bird, Phoenix, 
     AZ; Paul Williams, Owner/Chef, Smoke Dem Bones BBQ, Phoenix, 
     AZ.
       Maury Williamson, Owner, The Country Clipper Barbershop, 
     Chandler, AZ; Natasha Winnik, Owner, Originate Natural 
     Building Materials Showroom, Tucson, AZ; Carolyn Young, 
     Owner, West of the Moon Jewelry & Art, Flagstaff, AZ; Annette 
     Zepeda, Co-Owner, Hair Deco, Phoenix, AZ; Feliciano Zizzo, 
     Owner, Zizzo Tailoring, Scottsdale, AZ; Ruksana Azhu 
     Valappil, Founder and CEO, NEEV, San Jose, CA; Brenda 
     Balanda, Owner/Broker, Marin Sunshine Realty, Point Reyes 
     Station, CA; Kae Bender, Founder, SocioEnergetics Foundation, 
     Lancaster, CA; Neil Blomquist, Managing Director, Natural 
     Habitats USA Inc., Richmond, CA; Neil Blomquist, Owner, 
     Sustainable Solutions Consulting, Sebastopol, CA; David 
     Bronner, CEO, Dr. Bronner's, Vista, CA; Rinaldo Brutoco, 
     Founding President & CEO, World Business Academy, Santa 
     Barbara, CA; Sattie Clark, Owner, Eleek Incorporated, Redwood 
     Valley, CA; Eric Cohen, Owner, Justice Grace Vineyards, 
     Sonoma, CA.
       Thomas Cook, Attorney, Thomas Cook Intellectual Property 
     Attorneys, Sausalito, CA; Fred Dew, Professional Engineer, 
     Consultancy, Altadena, CA; Desi Dimitrova, Owner, Dimitrova 
     Agency, San Dimas, CA; Jerome Dodson, President, Pamassus 
     Investments, San Francisco, CA; Eric Edelson, CEO, Fireday 
     Tile, San Francisco, CA; Mika Endo, Operations Manager, Mafia 
     Bags, San Francisco, CA; Malia Everette, CEO, Altruvistas, 
     Richmond, CA; Monica Farbiarz, CEO, Encanto Jewels, Grass 
     Valley, CA; Deborah Frangquist, Owner, Chosen Futures, San 
     Francisco, CA; Jim Frazin, Principal, Financial Planner, 
     Communitas Financial Planning Inc., San Francisco, CA; Gary 
     Gerber, CEO, Sun Light & Power, Berkeley, CA; Michael 
     Hannigan, CEO, Community Benefit Corporation, Berkeley, CA.
       Janie Hoffman, CEO & Founder, Mamma Chia, Carlsbad, CA; Kip 
     Howard, Former CEO (retired), Navis LLC, Larkspur, CA; Ari 
     Isaak, Owner, Evan GIS Consulting, San Diego, CA; Donald M. 
     Johnson, Retired, Architect, Ventura, CA; Bakari Kafele, 
     Owner, BioDiesel Hauling, San Pablo, CA. Steve Kaye, Owner, 
     Steve Kaye Photo, Placentia, CA; Dr. Mha Atma S Khalsa, 
     Owner, Khalsa Chiropractic, Los Angeles, CA; Martin 
     Kruger, COO, Follow Your Heart (Earth Island), Chatsworth, 
     CA; Carolyn McMaster, CEO, Thinkshift Communications, San 
     Francisco, CA; Carolina Miranda, Founder and CEO, 
     Cultivating Capital, Richmond, CA; Virginia Morrison, 
     President, Collaboration Specialists, San Anselmo, CA; 
     Allan Moskowitz, Owner, Transformative Wealth Management, 
     El Cerrito, CA.
       Erin Musgrave, Principal, EMC Strategies, Santa Cruz, CA; 
     Mark Nelson, Owner, Renaissance Remodelers, San Anselmo, CA; 
     S. Ostertag, Co-Owner, GLYDE America, Los Angeles, CA; 
     Jennifer Piette, Founder, CEO, Narrative Food, Chatsworth, 
     CA; Dylan Pollard, Partner, 
     PollardBailey, Beverly Hills, CA; Ben 
     Rosenthal, Owner, Sustainable Computing, Berkeley, CA; Frank 
     Scarpaci, President, VIANOVA, San Diego, CA; John Schmidt, 
     Director, Quiksilver, Huntington Beach, CA; Leslie Sheridan, 
     President, The Added Edge, Clearlake, CA; Michelle Stevens, 
     Founder & CEO, The Refill Shoppe, Ventura, CA; Donald Taylor, 
     President, Continental-Pacific Lumber, Gold River, CA; Alan 
     Thiesen, Vice-President, Digital Research (retired), Nevada 
     City, CA; Kelly Vlahakis-Hanks, President and CEO, Earth 
     Friendly Products (Makers of ECOS), Cypress, CA; Esther 
     Wagner, CFO, Excellent Packaging & Supply, Richmond, CA.
       James Weil, CEO, Weil Aquatronics, Inc, Norwalk, CA; 
     Robynne Winchester, Owner, Revelation in Fit, Oakland, CA; 
     George Yenoki, Owner, Hackberry solutions, Monrovia, CA; Ben 
     C. Alexander, Certified General Appraiser, Ben C. Alexander 
     Appraisers, Byers, CO; Carlos Alvarez-Aranyos, Managing 
     Partner, Boulder Transport, Boulder, CO; Bryan Birsic, CEO, 
     Wunder Capital, Boulder, CO; Richard Correa, Owner, Richard 
     Correa Agencies, Aurora, CO; Jenny Davies, Owner, Progressive 
     Promotions, Denver, CO; Matthew Elliott, Partner, Super 
     Humane, Denver, CO; Jeffrey Fierberg, CEO, Sora Digital, 
     Denver, CO; Kathleen Furr, Owner, eXtraOrdinary Gift Company, 
     Denver, CO; Toby Gadd, President, Nuance Chocolate, Fort 
     Collins, CO; Kyle Garner, CEO, Organic India USA, Boulder, 
     CO.
       Chris Graves, Owner, Bardo Coffee House, Denver, CO; Sharon 
     Hwang, Owner, The Wellness Center, Glendale, CO; Heather 
     Jernberg, Partner, Boreas Group, Denver, CO; John Kuebler, 
     Owner, Kilgore Books, Denver, CO; Jason Kuri, Founder, 
     Ionzero LLC, Fort Collins, CO; Craig Lamberty, Owner, 
     Conscious Coffees, Boulder, CO; Blake Manion, Founder, Soul 
     Salve, Denver, CO; Stacey Marcellus, Co-Founder & CEO, 
     Cappello's, Denver, CO; Alicia Marsicovetere, Owner, Renew 
     Massage Studio LLC, Wheat Ridge, CO; Marilyn Megenity, Owner, 
     Mercury Cafe, Denver, CO; Allison Parks, Owner/Managing 
     Broker, Conscious Real Estate, Denver, CO; Chad Schubert, 
     Director, Business Development, Pivot Energy, Denver, CO; 
     Julie Tasche, Director of Community and Culture, Illegal 
     Pete's, Inc., Denver, CO; Pete Turner, Founder/President, 
     Illegal Pete's Restaurants, Denver, CO; Marie Venner, Owner 
     and CEO, Venner Consulting, Lakewood, CO; Samuel Weaver, CEO, 
     Cool Energy, Boulder, CO; Joshua Angelus, Owner, Self-
     employed, Waterbury, CT; Jonell Carr, Business Manager, 
     Exquisite Contractors, Bridgeport, CT.
       Nikki Colodny, Owner, Medical Practice, Guilford, CT; 
     Jenifer Gorin, Founder, Impact Growth Partners, Westport, CT; 
     Walter Greissle, Accountant, CPA, Stamford, CT; William 
     Potvin, Owner, Hosmer Mountain Bottling Co., Willimantic, CT; 
     Nancy Ruzow, Design Director, Ruzow Graphics Inc, Westport, 
     CT; Margot Dorfman, CEO, U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce, 
     Washington, DC; Mike Englert, President, Eighty2degrees 
     Design Studio, Washington, DC; Jeffrey Hollender, CEO, 
     American Sustainable Business Council, Washington, DC; Pennye 
     Jones-Napier, Owner & CEO, BBWoof Inc., Washington, DC; 
     Michael Lastoria, Founder and CEO, &pizza, Washington, DC; 
     Gloria Nauden, CMO, City First Bank, Washington,

[[Page H7114]]

     DC; Thomas Oppel, Executive Vice President, American 
     Sustainable Business Council, Washington, DC; Michael Peck, 
     Founder, MAPA Group, Washington, DC; Gina Schaefer, Owner, 
     Logan, Glover Park, Frager's, Tenleytown, other Ace Hardware 
     stores, Washington, DC; Aaron Seyedian, Owner, Well-Paid 
     Maids, Washington, DC; Andy Shallal, Owner, Busboys & Poets 
     Restaurants, Washington, DC.
       Fran Teplitz, Executive Co-Director for Business, Investing 
     & Policy, Green America's Green Business Network, Washington, 
     DC; Troy Toliver, Owner, We Buy Houses Nationwide USA, 
     Washington, DC; Daniel Turner, President, TCG, Washington, 
     DC; Dr. Kimberly Grimes, Co-Owner, Made by Hand 
     International, South Bethany, DE; Gabriel Feldmann, Owner, 
     The Feldmann Agency, Pensacola, FL; Matt Henderson, Owner, 
     Henderson Agency, Orlando, FL; Orlando Heras, President, The 
     Royal Gourmet Co., Hollywood, FL; Karen Joslin, Creatrix, 
     Karen Joslin, Tallahassee, FL; Michelle Martinez, Owner, 
     Williams-Martinez Agency, Miami Lakes, FL; KathySue McGuire, 
     Principal, 3 Pillar Solutions, Jupiter, FL; MaryAnn Nelson, 
     Owner, GQ Solutions, LLC, Jacksonville, FL; Joel Pollock, Co-
     Owner, Panther Coffee Roasters, Miami, FL; Natalie Albright, 
     Owner, RSVP Prom and Pageant, Johns Creek, GA; Toula 
     Argentis, Owner, 2BWhole Gluten Free Bakery, Alpharetta, GA; 
     Lisa Bobb, Owner, Squash Blossom Boutique, Decatur, GA; 
     Kizuwanda Boyd, Owner, Dreams Beauty Experience, Atlanta, GA; 
     Brian Brock, Managing Partner, Antwerp Diamonds, Roswell, GA; 
     Douglas Burks, CEO, Burks Jewelers, Atlanta, GA; Rand Cabus, 
     Owner, Mojo Vinyl Records, Roswell, GA.
       Kal Cauthen, Owner, KC Groomer & Beauty Bar, Alpharetta, 
     GA; Bruce Champeau, President and COO, Room & Board, Atlanta, 
     GA; Randall Cook, Owner, Cook Agency, Buford, GA; Belon 
     Durham, Owner, B Lashfull, Atlanta, GA; George Edward, Owner, 
     The Hair Artists, Sandy Springs, GA; Rick Elibert, Owner/CEO, 
     Positive Image Barber Shop, Chamblee, GA; Solera Foster, 
     Owner, Solera's Salon, Sandy Springs, GA; Lola Foxx, Co-
     Owner, Foxx Original Jamaican Restaurant, Atlanta, GA; 
     Phnewfula Frederiksen, Owner, Happy Mango, Atlanta, GA; Saba 
     Gebrekiedan, Owner, Village Coffee Shop, Atlanta, GA; Brandy 
     Hall, Founder, Shades of Green Permaculture Design, Decatur, 
     GA; William Herman, Co-Owner, Raging Burrito, Decatur, GA; 
     Warren Hudson, Owner, Decatur CD & Vinyl, Decatur, GA; Xavier 
     Jarque, Owner, Xavier & Sons Auto Body & Paint, Alpharetta, 
     GA; Ty Jenkins, Owner, Olive Branch Green Beauty, Decatur, 
     GA; Kyle Johnson, Owner, Johnson Agency, Manetta, GA.
       John Kang, Founder and General Manager, Salad Express, 
     Roswell, GA; Sooill Kim, Owner, Donut Shack, Roswell, GA; 
     Michael Knight, Owner, Kaboodle Home, Atlanta, GA; RuthE 
     Levy, Owner, And Thou Shalt Read, Marietta, GA; RuthE Levy, 
     Owner, Oy Toys, Roswell, GA; Godfrey Lewis, Owner, Avocado 
     Vegan Cafe, Johns Creek, GA; Brandon Ley, Co-Owner, Georgia 
     Beer Garden, Atlanta, GA; Brandon Ley, Co-Owner, Joystick 
     Gamebar, Atlanta, GA; Celestino Loera, Owner, Mr. Tino's Ice 
     Cream, Roswell, GA; Kathy Mai, Owner, K Hair Salon, 
     Alpharetta, GA; Johnny Martinez, Co-Owner, Georgia Beer 
     Garden, Atlanta, GA; Johnny Martinez, Co-Owner, Joystick 
     Gamebar, Atlanta, GA; Juel McGhee, Owner, Closing Deals LLC, 
     Atlanta, GA; Irene McGuire, Owner, Christian Print Shop, 
     Johns Creek, GA; Michael Minga, Owner, Vivid Boutique 
     Decatur, GA; Nataki Minix Owner, Star Taki Hair Lounge, 
     Atlanta, GA.
       Melissa Moore, Owner, Sq/Ft, Decatur, GA; Zalman Niktalov, 
     Owner, North Point Upholstery, Roswell, GA; Jeffrey Oparnica, 
     Owner, Sabbath Brewing, Atlanta, GA; Cliff Owens-Leech, 
     Please Select, COL Agency, Stone Mountain, GA; Joseph Peta, 
     Owner, Feather Baby, Decatur, GA; LaKesia Phelps, Owner, 
     Anna's BBQ, Atlanta, GA; Al Rauf, Owner, Al's European 
     Barber, Alpharetta, GA; Al Raye, Owner, Clay's Sports Cafe, 
     Sandy Springs, GA; Robert Rhein, Owner, GBG Market, Atlanta, 
     GA; Robert Rhein, Owner, The Square Pub, Decatur, GA; Joann 
     Schwartz, Owner, Kirkwood Feed & Seed Pet Supply, Atlanta, 
     GA; Joann Schwartz, Owner, Kirkwood Bark & Lounge, Atlanta, 
     GA; Jason Shadix, Owner, Found Co., Decatur, GA; Sana Shah, 
     Owner, Sana Beauty Salon, Johns Creek, GA; Lucius Simon, 
     Owner, 1st Class Barber & Beauty Salon, Atlanta, GA; John 
     Thompson, Owner, Clothes Horse Men's Apparel & Gifts, 
     Alpharetta, GA; Lisa Turner, Co-Owner, Trinity Mercantile & 
     Design, Decatur, GA; Alex Vershkov, Owner, Alex Auto, 
     Roswell, GA; Lan Vu, Owner, Classic Tailor & Alterations, 
     Roswell, GA; Debbie Wallace, CEO, 360 Health Broadcasting 
     Network, Atlanta, GA; Debbie Wallace, CEO, A Full Taste 
     Restaurant, Decatur, GA; Jamison Weatherspoon, Owner, 
     Weatherspoon Agencies, Duluth, GA; Darryl Pellegrini, Owner, 
     Music business, Aiea, HI; Mo Ajram, Owner, Kamal's Inc, Cedar 
     Rapids, IA; Anthony Albizo, Owner, Flash Screen Printing & 
     Embroidery, West Des Moines, IA; Steve Anderson, Owner, A-
     Kleen Sweep, West Des Moines, IA.
       Dina Bachman, Owner, Five Monkeys Inc, Des Moines, IA; John 
     Bartlett, Owner, i Work & Play, West Des Moines, IA; Mike 
     Blanchard, Owner, The CORE Cedar Falls, IA; Michael Glenn 
     Breitbach, Owner, The Food Store, Dubuque, IA; Beth Brown, 
     Owner, Beth's Custom Cakes, Dubuque, IA; Jesus Castro, Owner, 
     La Michoacana Mexican Groceries, West Des Moines, IA; 
     Martavious ``Taye'' Clayton, Owner, House of Fades, Des 
     Moines, IA; Mel Dameron, Owner, TwinFadez Barber Shop, 
     Urbandale, IA; Rebecca Davidson, Owner, Dash Coffee Roasters, 
     Iowa City, IA; Rebecca Davidson, Owner, Dash Coffee Roasters, 
     Cedar Rapids, IA; Charla Davidson, President, Zebras on 5th, 
     West Des Moines, IA; Jodi Deery, Owner, Jennifer's on Main, 
     Cedar Falls, IA; David Deibler, Co-Owner, Octopus, Cedar 
     Falls, IA; Darrell Delaney, Owner, House of Fades, Des 
     Moines, IA.
       Mike Draper, Owner, Raygun LLC, Des Moines, IA; Mike 
     Draper, Owner, Raygun LLC, Cedar Rapids, IA; Ann Eastman, 
     Owner, Miss Wonderful Vintage, Cedar Falls, IA; Kathy and 
     Herb Eckhouse, Owners, La Quercia, Norwalk, IA; Christopher 
     Ellis, Co-Owner & Managing Partner, Quarter Barrel Arcade & 
     Brewery, Cedar Rapids, IA; Hart Epstein, Owner, Bluebird 
     Diner, Iowa City, IA; Josh Garrett, Owner, Jett & Monkey's, 
     Des Moines, IA; Robert Guthart, Owner, Bob's Guitars, Cedar 
     Falls, IA; Lisa Haley, Owner, Ice Cream U Scream, Dubuque, 
     IA; Kevin Hedley, Owner, Uncle Ike's Music, Dubuque, IA; 
     Catherine Hickey, Owner, Memory Lane Antiques Gifts 
     Collectibles, West Des Moines, IA; Suman Hoque, Owner, HOQ 
     Restaurant, Des Moines, IA; Jacob Jenkins, Owner, Big Acai, 
     West Des Moines, IA.
       Chrissy Jensen, Owner, Domestics, Des Moines, IA; Kevin 
     Jones, Owner, Subsect Skateshop, Des Moines, IA; Amber 
     Keppler, Owner, Look @ You, Des Moines, IA; Jorene King, 
     Owner, Wines of Iowa, West Des Moines, IA; Jay Kozel, Owner, 
     Back Country, Des Moines, IA; Mike Kunzler, Co-Owner/Art 
     Director, Kunzler Studios, West Des Moines, IA; Robert 
     Larson, Owner, Record Collector, Iowa City, IA; Carol Lauber, 
     Owner, Caboose Stop Hobbies, Cedar Falls, IA; Julie Lewerke, 
     Owner, Metro Market, West Des Moines, IA; Joseph Logsdon, 
     Owner, La Mie Bakery, Des Moines, IA; Nicole Lorenson, Owner, 
     Preservation, Des Moines, IA; Keith Luter, Owner, Head 2 Toe 
     Barbershop, Cedar Rapids, IA; Delaney Lynch, Owner, Bungalow, 
     West Des Moines, IA; Allison Lyons, Owner, Rumors, Des 
     Moines, IA; Adrian Maddox, Owner, Always Good Kutz LLC, Des 
     Moines, IA; Ellen Martinson, Owner, Leona Ruby, Des Moines, 
     IA; Ruth McDanel, Owner, Foxglove Chiropractic, West Des 
     Moines, IA; Natalie Meester, Owner, Little Prairie Girl, 
     Cedar Falls, IA.
       Kristy Meyer, Co-Owner, Carol Ann Boutique & Body, Dubuque, 
     IA; Nicole Myers, Owner, Polka Dots & Denim, Cedar Rapids, 
     IA; Lacie Navin, Owner, Your CBD Store Valley Junction, West 
     Des Moines, IA; Amber Neville, Owner, Willow & Stock, Iowa 
     City, IA; Tony Nguyen, Owner, T-Tech, Des Moines, IA; Nate 
     Niceswanger, Owner, ZZZ Records, Des Moines, IA; Michael 
     Papich, President, Papich-Kuba Funeral Service, Cedar Rapids, 
     IA; Joan Peiffer, Owner, Peiffer Paws Pet Grooming, Cedar 
     Rapids, IA; Michael Price, Owner, Price Check Kicks, Cedar 
     Falls, IA; Kathleen Rash, Owner and President, The Art 
     Mission, Iowa City, IA; Tray Rochon, Owner, Blades 
     Barbershop, Des Moines, IA; John Rohlf, Owner, Metro Records, 
     Cedar Falls, IA; Sheila Sayre, Owner, She Home & Gift, Des 
     Moines, IA; Barb Schilf, Owner, Mohair Pear, Cedar Falls, IA; 
     Nate Sherwood, Owner, Eduskate, Cedar Rapids, IA; Bryan 
     Smith, Owner, Blazing Saddle, Des Moines, IA; Andrew Snyder, 
     Owner, Andy's Frame Shop, Des Moines, IA.
       Kristin Solberg, Owner, Solberg's, Cedar Rapids, IA; 
     Margeaux Spain, Owner, Margeaux Spain Wellness, Des Moines, 
     IA; Glen Stillmunkes, Owner, Freddie's Popcorn Co., Dubuque, 
     IA; Uzma Sultana, Owner, Gyro Hut, Cedar Rapids, IA; Anne 
     Temple, Owner, Iowa Artisans Gallery, Iowa City, IA; Jennifer 
     Veak, Owner, T-Shirt Graphix, Des Moines, IA; Victoria 
     Veiock, Owner, Bing's, West Des Moines, IA; David Wetter, 
     Owner, C & D Delivery LLC, Dubuque, IA; David Wetter, Owner, 
     Tavern on the Main, Dubuque, IA; Dena Wright, Owner, Paula's 
     Cafe, West Des Moines, IA; Stan Yoder, Owner, Stan's Barber 
     Stylists, Iowa City, IA; ReShonda Young, Founder, Popcorn 
     Heaven, Waterloo, IA; David Zaghloul, Owner/Chef, Chez Grace, 
     Coralville, IA; Amanda Zeitner, Owner, Snowwhite Botanicals, 
     Des Moines, IA; Scot McGavin, Co-Owner, Puentes Language 
     Programs, Boise, ID; Bill Parks, President and Founder, NRS, 
     Moscow, ID.
       Kathy Stearns, Owner, Arc Advisers, Boise, ID; Ellen 
     Anderson, President, Rally Insurance Group, Volo, IL; Chuck 
     Blumenthal, Owner, Bean Products, Inc., Chicago, IL; David 
     Borris, Owner and President, Hel's Kitchen Catering, 
     Northbrook, IL; Nancy Brandt, Retired, Investor, Chicago, IL; 
     James Brandt, Board Member, Ringspann Corp., Franklin Park, 
     IL; Bruce Champeau, Presidnet and COO, Room & Board, Oak 
     Brook, IL; Joyce Coffee, President, Climate Resilience 
     Consulting, Chicago, IL; James Coleman, President, The Metro 
     Group, Chicago, IL; Elizabeth Colon, President, Metaphrasis 
     Language & Cultural Solutions, Chicago, IL; Mike Draper, 
     Owner, Raygun LLC, Chicago, IL; Emily Farr, Owner, Farr & 
     Farr, LLC, Chicago, IL.
       Tim Frick, CEO, Mightybytes, Chicago, IL; Pamella 
     Gronemeyer, M.D., Owner, SEMC Pathology, Highland, IL; Kate 
     Jakubas, Founder, Meliora Cleaning Products, Chicago, IL; 
     Michelle Knox, Founder/President, WindSolarUSA, Springfield, 
     IL; Kevin Lampe, Co-Founder & Executive Vice President, Kurth 
     Lampe Worldwide, Chicago, IL; Michael Londo, President, Just 
     in Time Direction, Glen Ellyn, IL; Emily Lonigro, CEO, 
     LimeRed, Chicago, IL; Thomas MacRoy,

[[Page H7115]]

     Owner, DuPage Psychological Associates, Naperville, IL; Sarah 
     McGuire, Owner, Sarah McGuire Studio, Chicago, IL; Bob Olson, 
     President and CEO, Olson Agencies, Lombard, IL; Scott 
     Pfeiffer, Managing Partner, Threshold Acoustics, Downers 
     Grove, IL; Michelle Sheldon, President, Eco Promotional 
     Products, Vernon Hills, IL; Dimitri Syrkin-Nikolau, Owner, 
     Dimo's Pizza, Chicago, IL.
       Lauren Venell, Co-founder & CXO, Joone Creative, Inc., 
     Chicago, IL; Kelly Vlahakis-Hanks, President and CEO, Earth 
     Friendly Products (Makers of ECOS), Addison, IL; Kelly 
     Weinberger, Founder and Co-Owner, WorldFinds, Westmont, IL; 
     James Cunningham, Owner, James Cunningham Agency, 
     Indianapolis, IN; Gregg Keesling, President, RecycleForce, 
     Indianapolis, IN; Deborah Pierce, Managing Partner, 
     GoodMustGrow, Brownsburg, IN; Becky Reimbold, Owner, Just 
     Goods, South Bend, IN; Yadrada Alvarez, Owner, Yady Beauty 
     Salon, Mission, KS; Jon Amyx, Owner, Downtown Barber, 
     Lawrence, KS; Carl Applequist, Owner, Carl's Salon, Overland 
     Park, KS; Rashida Bonds, Owner, Beautiful Hair Parlor, 
     Mission, KS; Brenda Clarke, Owner, The Hair House, Shawnee, 
     KS; Mike Cole, Owner, The General Store, Overland Park, KS; 
     Molly Crook, Owner, Essential Goods, Lawrence, KS; Kerry 
     Doan, Owner, Bombshell Boutique, Mission, KS.
       Ken Fleming, Owner, Ken's Swap-d-Shop, Olathe, KS; Marlon 
     Ford, Owner, For's Barber Shop, Kansas City, KS; Kathy Gates, 
     Owner, The Running Well Store, Mission, KS; Patricia H. 
     Goodfriend, Owner, Teal Lotus, Overland Park, KS; Dave 
     Grigsby, Owner, Parkwood Barber Shop, Kansas City, KS; Carmen 
     Hinojos, Manager, Las Gorditas Mexican Restaurant, Kansas 
     City, KS; Dustin Hothan, Owner, CBD of Lawrence, Lawrence, 
     KS; Angelynn Howell, Owner, Anna's BLD Bistro, Kansas City, 
     KS; Lewis Hurtt, Owner, Shoe Master, Fairway, KS; Ronell 
     Jones, Owner, JC Barbershop; Shawnee, KS; Denise Kirk, Owner, 
     Aunt Jean's, Shawnee, KS; Lane Lambert, Owner, 3 Wishes--
     Books, Art, Music, Merriam, KS; Sam Lloyd, Co-owner, Harbor 
     Leaf Tea Company, Lawrence, KS.
       Cole Maggart, Owner, Brothers Music, Mission, KS; Nicole 
     Manriquez, Owner, Striped Cow, Lawrence, KS; Joey Mendez, Co-
     Owner, ULAH, Westwood, KS; Haile Michaels, Owner, Elsa's 
     Ethiopian, Overland Park, KS; Marilyn O'Hearne, Owner, 
     Marilyn Oh Executive & Team Coaching, Leawood, KS; William 
     O'Rourke, Owner, Orange Cat Records, Lawrence, KS; Tracy 
     Ochester, Owner, Ochester Psychological Services, LLC, 
     Leawood, KS; Keyla Osuna, Manager, Osuna Bakery, Kansas City, 
     KS; Dan Phillips, Owner, Vinyl Renaissance, Overland Park, 
     KS; Ron Phillips, Shop Supervisor, Klemp Electric, Kansas 
     City, KS; Darby Pool, Owner, Bikes for the Likes of Us, 
     Olathe, KS; Jenny Pugh, Owner, Lulu's Boutique, Mission, KS; 
     Jorge Ramos, Owner, Ramos Upholstery, Kansas City, KS; Daisy 
     Rodriguez, Owner, Oregano & Thyme Market, Mission, KS; Amrik 
     Sandhu, Manager, Black's Liquor, Kansas City, KS; Dave Seal, 
     Owner, Framewoods, Lawrence, KS; Ben Stallings, Co-Owner, 
     Interdependent Web, Emporia, KS.
       Sherry Sullivan, Owner, Brian's Bakery, Mission, KS; Sara 
     Thompson, President, Ceramic Cafe, Overland Park, KS; Tara 
     Vandervalk, Owner, Radiance: Beautiful Skin, Overland Park, 
     KS; Teresa Hendricks, Owner, Lucia's World Emporium, 
     Lexington, KY; Camille Moran, Owner, Caramor Industries; 4 
     Seasons Christmas Tree and Plant Farm, Natchitoches, LA; 
     Angela O'Byrne, Owner, Perez APC, New Orleans, LA; Mallory 
     Whitfield, Owner, Malaprop LLC, New Orleans, LA; Janet 
     Axelrod, Owner, Wealth Matters, Cambridge, MA; Robert Baker, 
     President, Key Polymer Corp., Lawrence, MA; Ann Baker, Owner, 
     On Camera Commercial Coaching, Wayland, MA; Jessie Banhazl, 
     CEO & Founder, Green City Growers, Somerville, MA; Phil 
     Bannatyne, Owner, Cambridge Brewing Company, Cambridge, MA; 
     Ted Barber, Founder, Prosperity Candle, Easthampton, MA; Jeff 
     Barry, President, Boston Organics, Charlestown, MA; Sam 
     Barstow, President & COO, Forsake, Boston, MA; Paul Benoit, 
     Co-Owner, Box Save, Arlington, MA; Andrew Bonfiglio, Co-
     Founder, Emzingo, Somerville, MA.

  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, take it from the words of Rebecca 
Hamilton, CEO of Badger Balm, a small cosmetic company in New 
Hampshire. She said: ``Paying a living wage is a core part of our 
culture and has helped us hire and retain excellent staff even in a 
time when other businesses have struggled.''
  We have heard businesses that started out small, such as the popular 
restaurant &pizza, that attribute their fast-growing success to their 
practice of paying fair wages while maintaining competitive prices.
  Small companies make up 99 percent of U.S. employers, and nearly 70 
percent of our economic activity comes from consumer spending.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds 
to the gentlewoman from New York.
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, by raising the minimum wage, we can help 
put money back into consumers' pockets, injecting new life into our 
Main Street and our economy.
  I ask everyone to support this important bill.
  Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 1 minute.
  Mr. Speaker, as my colleagues from Georgia said, the Democrats want 
to make the American people think that they, as agents of the Federal 
Government, are giving them something by raising this minimum wage. 
That is not true.
  Small businesses, families, workers, and the economy at large will 
all suffer debilitating loss if this bill is passed. Forcing our 
Nation's job creators to raise the minimum wage arbitrarily around the 
country by 107 percent will hurt the very people this ill-advised 
legislation is alleged to help.
  The case studies from States and localities with large minimum wage 
hikes are clear and have shown that workers and employers are punished 
by these risky schemes.
  Apparently, House Democrats have missed the fact that wages are 
already on the rise. With unemployment near a 50-year low, the 
competition for employees is driving wages up.
  Instead of stifling our booming economy by forcing employers to 
implement a crippling, mandated wage hike, we should advance 
legislation that empowers communities, creates opportunities, and opens 
doors for workers.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the 
gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro), the chair of the Labor, 
Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee 
of the Appropriations Committee.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, let's be clear. Since Franklin Roosevelt, 
the Federal Government has been increasing the Federal wage.
  Don't let them get away with this hogwash about what we do and what 
we don't do here.
  Wages for the top 1 percent have grown 150 percent since 1979.
  Wages for middle-class families and working families have stagnated. 
Their wages do not keep up with the skyrocketing costs of healthcare, 
prescription drugs, childcare, housing, and a college education.
  This is the single biggest economic challenge of our time. So, today, 
full-time, year-round work at the Federal minimum wage of $7.25 leaves 
a family of three below the Federal poverty line. It is unacceptable, 
because working people have more than earned a raise.
  According to the Economic Policy Institute, if the minimum wage 
increased equal to the increases in workers' productivity, it would be 
more than $20 an hour.
  Congress needs to make this right. Clearly, my colleagues on the 
other side of the aisle do not respect the work of 34 million 
Americans. They don't respect the dignity of the work that these folks 
do.
  It is our job. Let us pass the Raise the Minimum Wage Act. Working 
people are doing their jobs. Let us do ours.
  I include in the Record a letter from the AFT, the American 
Federation of Teachers.


                              American Federation of Teachers,

                                    Washington, DC, July 17, 2019.
     Hon. Robert ``Bobby'' Scott,
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Rep. Scott: On behalf of the 1.7 million members of 
     the American Federation of Teachers, I thank you for 
     introducing the Raise the Wage Act of 2019 (H.R. 582). By 
     raising the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $15 per hour 
     by 2024, H.R. 582 would empower millions of struggling 
     Americans to make ends meet and support their families.
       The federal minimum wage was last raised to $7.25 per hour 
     in 2009, and, over the past decade, the cost of living has 
     increased at a pace that significantly exceeds the average 
     earnings of a minimum wage worker. Raising the wage is a 
     matter of economic and social justice because a $15 minimum 
     wage would lift millions out of poverty, help close the 
     racial and gender wage gaps, and help reverse decades of 
     growing pay inequality.
       The Economic Policy Institute estimates that increasing the 
     federal minimum wage to $15 by 2024 would give more than 1 in 
     3 working women a raise, including 43 percent of African 
     American working women, 38 percent of working Latinas, 32 
     percent of white working women, and 20 percent of Asian and 
     Pacific Islander working women.
       Of particular note for the AFT, our research tells us that 
     one-fifth of educators and one-fourth of healthcare workers 
     would get a raise under H.R. 582--including but not limited 
     to preschool teachers, who on average earn $13.84 per hour; 
     substitute teachers,

[[Page H7116]]

     who average $13.47 per hour; child care workers, who earn an 
     average of $10.18 per hour; and home healthcare workers, who 
     on average receive $10.87 per hour. With higher wages, more 
     Americans would be better able to afford food, clothing, 
     housing and other necessities, which, in turn, would support 
     local businesses and economic growth.
       Too many hardworking families in the United States are 
     being forced to depend on poverty-level wages. Congress can 
     help strengthen our economy and lift families out of poverty 
     by raising the federal minimum wage.
       Thank you for your introduction of H.R. 582.
           Sincerely,
                                                 Randi Weingarten,
                                                        President.

  Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee).
  Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, let me first thank Chairman Scott 
for yielding and for his tireless, incredible, and brilliant 
leadership.
  I include in the Record a letter from The Leadership Conference on 
Civil and Human Rights expressing their strong support for H.R. 582.

                                         The Leadership Conference


                                    on Civil and Human Rights,

                                    Washington, DC, July 15, 2019.

      Vote Recommendation: Support the Raise the Wage Act of 2019

       Dear Representative: On behalf of The Leadership Conference 
     on Civil and Human Rights, a coalition charged by its diverse 
     membership of more than 200 national organizations to promote 
     and protect the civil and human rights of all persons in the 
     United States, we write to express our strong support for the 
     Raise the Wage Act of 2019 (H.R. 582). This important 
     legislation would gradually raise the federal minimum wage to 
     $15 an hour by 2025, index it to median federal wages, and 
     ensure that all tipped workers, working people with 
     disabilities, and young people get paid at least the full 
     minimum wage. Passage of the Raise the Wage Act is a top 
     legislative priority of our coalition. We urge you to vote 
     YES on final passage of a clean bill and NO on any Motion to 
     Recommit (MTR) in connection with this legislation. The 
     Leadership Conference will score both of these votes in our 
     voting record for the 116th Congress.
       At the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, one 
     of the founders of The Leadership Conference, Black labor 
     leader A. Philip Randolph, noted, ``Nor is the goal of our 
     civil rights revolution merely the passage of civil rights 
     legislation. Yes, we want all public accommodations open to 
     all citizens, but those accommodations will mean little to 
     those who cannot afford to use them.''
       This week, the House of Representatives has the opportunity 
     to champion working people by passing the Raise the Wage Act 
     of 2019. In February 2019, I testified at a hearing held by 
     the U.S. House Committee on Education & Labor entitled 
     ``Gradually Raising the Minimum Wage to $15: Good for 
     Workers, Good for Businesses, and Good for the Economy.'' 
     What I said then remains true today: low-wage working people 
     are overdue for a raise. For decades, wages for most people 
     in America have stagnated while productivity has increased. 
     This has been particularly true for low-wage earners. 
     Congress has not raised the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an 
     hour since 2007. And the tipped minimum wage has been stuck 
     at $2.13 an hour since 1991.
       Raising the federal minimum wage is a racial and gender 
     justice issue. The National Women's Law Center has noted that 
     women make up nearly two-thirds of those earning the federal 
     minimum wage of $7.25 an hour. Women of color are more likely 
     than any other group to be paid the lowest wages.
       Paying tipped workers the full minimum wage would rectify 
     longstanding injustices and ensure that no one works for 
     pennies in America. The subminimum wage that tipped workers 
     receive is rooted in the history of slavery. The practice of 
     tipping proliferated in the United States after the Civil War 
     when the restaurant and hospitality industry, exemplified by 
     the Pullman Company, ``hired'' newly freed slaves without 
     paying them base wages. The effect was to create a permanent 
     servant class, for whom the responsibility of paying a wage 
     was shifted from employers to customers. Today, poverty rates 
     for people who work for tips are more than twice as high as 
     rates for working people overall--with female tipped workers, 
     especially women of color, at a particular disadvantage. 
     According to the 2012-2015 ACS data on gender and race for 
     tipped occupations, of the almost 6 million tipped working 
     people in our country, 66 percent are women. And women of 
     color are disproportionately represented in the tipped 
     workforce.
       As with the tipped minimum wage, the subminimum wage under 
     Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act that allows 
     people with disabilities working in segregated settings to be 
     paid less than the minimum wage leaves this community 
     vulnerable to poverty and exploitation. The National 
     Disability Rights Network believes that ``sheltered workshops 
     have replaced institutions in many states as the new 
     warehousing system and are the new favored locations where 
     people with disabilities are sent to occupy their days.'' 
     Enacted in 1938, Section 14(c) reflects what should be a 
     bygone era of how we as a nation treat people with 
     disabilities. The time has come for federal action to support 
     and fully integrate people with disabilities into the 
     workplace.
       The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) recently released a 
     report looking at the potential effects of increasing the 
     federal minimum wage to $15 an hour incrementally through 
     2025 and found that the benefits strongly outweigh its costs. 
     The CBO report predicted that this gradual increase would 
     decrease the number of individuals living in poverty by 1.3 
     million people and disproportionately increase the incomes of 
     families that are low-income.
       The civil rights community has long supported a universal 
     floor for wages that would provide a base line for all people 
     in our country. Indeed, one of the core demands of the 1963 
     March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom was for ``[a] 
     national minimum wage that will give all Americans a decent 
     standard of living.'' Cost of living data show that in all 50 
     states today a single working person without children 
     currently needs or will soon need a wage of at least $15 per 
     hour to cover basic living costs. Working people with 
     children and those in high-cost states will need even more.
       Fair wages are essential for working people to cover basic 
     expenses like housing, food, transportation, childcare, 
     health care, and other necessities. We urge you to vote for 
     clean passage of the Raise the Wage Act of 2019--and against 
     any MTR that is offered--to address the economic security 
     concerns of working families. Thank you for your 
     consideration.
           Sincerely,
                                                     Vanita Gupta,
                                                President and CEO.

  Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this 
bill, the Raise the Wage Act. This critical bill would increase the 
minimum wage to $15 an hour and give 33 million workers a raise, 
including 16 million people of color who are disproportionately paid 
poverty wages.
  Once more, it would lift 1.3 million Americans out of poverty.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill is long overdue. The current minimum wage of 
$7.25 is a poverty wage, plain and simple.
  I, too, am a former business owner with hundreds of employees who saw 
firsthand how productivity was achieved and increased by paying good 
wages.
  These poverty wages must end for everyone. Homelessness is rising. 
People can't afford to pay their rent. They are living on the edge.
  No one in the richest nation on Earth should be struggling like this, 
working two and three jobs just to survive.
  Mr. Speaker, I have been proud to have joined my union brothers and 
sisters, along with the attorney general of Minnesota, former co-chair 
of the Progressive Caucus, Keith Ellison, and my union brothers and 
sisters on picket lines, in rallies, and marches in the fight for $15. 
I want to thank them for their bold and committed leadership.
  When we fight, we win.
  I urge a ``yes'' vote on raising the wage to $15 an hour.
  I thank Chairman Scott, again, for his leadership.
  Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire again as to the 
time remaining on both sides.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Virginia has 4\3/4\ 
minutes remaining. The gentlewoman from North Carolina has 1\1/2\ 
minutes remaining.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney), the vice chair on 
the Joint Economic Committee.
  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong 
support of the Raise the Wage Act, which will raise the Federal minimum 
wage to $15 per hour by 2025.
  I include in the Record a letter signed by many youth organizations 
in support of this legislation.

       Dear Members of Congress: The undersigned organizations are 
     writing to express our support for the Raise the Wage Act of 
     2019, which would incrementally increase the federal minimum 
     wage from $7.25 to $15.00 over the next 6 years. Beyond 
     raising the wage, the bill's important provisions include 
     phasing out the subminimum wages for tipped workers, people 
     with disabilities, and youth. As organizations committed to 
     the wellbeing and economic security of young people, we are 
     united in our goal of ensuring all youth are paid a livable 
     wage to provide for themselves and their families.
       Adults and youth both struggle to make ends meet on today's 
     minimum wage. Currently, the poverty rate for youth {ages 18 
     to

[[Page H7117]]

     24) is 16.1 percent, which is higher than the national rate 
     of 12.3 percent. Existing law allows employers to pay youth 
     under age 20 a subminimum wage of $4.25 for the first 90 days 
     of their employment. While rarely used, this subminimum wage 
     prohibits youth from being active consumers in their 
     communities, saving money, or achieving true economic 
     stability. The Raise the Wage Act will benefit millions of 
     low-wage workers by increasing their income to a wage that 
     would allow them to meet their financial needs.
       Youth, like many others in this country, use their wages to 
     support themselves and their families. For example, young 
     people use their summer jobs earnings to purchase school 
     supplies and assist family with buying food and contributing 
     to college costs. Some use their wages to support their own 
     children, pay rent, and buy other basic necessities. 
     According to the Census Bureau, approximately 27 percent of 
     young adults with children live in poverty. Low wages make it 
     increasingly difficult for these parents to appropriately 
     care for their children.
       Congress has not raised the minimum wage in over a decade. 
     Studies show that one in nine U.S. workers are paid wages 
     that leave them in poverty, even when working full time and 
     year-round. The economy is leaving too many people behind--
     including youth and young adults. Because poverty is 
     structural and caused by systems and policies--like 
     discrimination, segregation, and low-quality jobs--
     policymakers have an important role in addressing it.
       Congress must act to raise the wage because it's the 
     equitable thing to do for workers and it's a financial 
     imperative--providing individuals with the means to meet 
     their basic financial needs. By raising the minimum wage and 
     eliminating the subminimum wage for youth, Congress would 
     support young people in becoming more economically secure to 
     help provide for their families and themselves. We urge 
     Congress to pass the Raise the Wage Act for the good of our 
     country's economy and the youth who will play a critical role 
     now and in our future.
           Sincerely,
       National Organizations: America's Promise Alliance; Center 
     for Law and Social Policy; Heartland Alliance; Kaleidoscope 
     Pathways; Opportunity Youth United; Project Z; SparkAction; 
     Strive International; YouthBuild USA.
       State and Local: Arizona: Opportunities for Youth; 
     California: KIWA (Koreatown Immigrant Workers Alliance); 
     Georgia: Georgia Shift; Louisiana: Dreams are Weapons; 
     Maryland: Baltimore Algebra Project; New York: City of 
     Albany, Department of Recreation; Pennsylvania: E5, LLC.

  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, the minimum wage 
has been stuck at $7.25 for the past 10 years. During that time, the 
cost of housing, food, childcare, education, all of this has risen 
higher and higher, but the minimum wage has been stuck.
  This week, the Joint Economic Committee, where I serve as vice chair, 
released a report on the Federal minimum wage, and it begins with this 
chart. It shows that, in 1968, a full-time worker working year-round at 
minimum wage would take home roughly $21,000 a year.
  Now, 15 years later, a worker working full-time making minimum wage 
earns only $15,000 a year in the same dollars, a loss of over $6,000 in 
real 2018 dollars. This is a 30 percent drop.
  A full-time worker earning $7.25 minimum wage earns roughly $1,250 
per month. That is not enough to cover even half of the monthly 
expenses of an average family, which total roughly $3,000. It is not 
enough to live on, let alone, to support a family.
  Now, some critics say the minimum wage is earned mostly by teenagers, 
but that is wrong. More than half of those working at or below the 
minimum wage are above 25 years of age.
  It ignores the fact that the typical minimum wage worker earns half 
of their family's income. As a result, boosting the wage will support 
millions of children and families across our Nation.
  Workers with more money in their pockets will spend it, stimulating 
the economy.
  It is important to end the gender gap, because half the people 
working for minimum wage are women.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 15 seconds 
to the gentlewoman.
  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I just want to 
applaud the gentleman from Virginia,  Bobby Scott, for his selfless and 
bold work. He faced many obstacles.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. I yield the gentlewoman such time as she may 
consume.
  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I urge a very 
strong vote on this to support the minimum wage and to get millions of 
workers the raise they so justly deserve. Over 33 million Americans 
deserve this raise. This chart shows it all.
  Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I compliment my colleague on 
his sense of humor, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the 
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee), a leader of the Judiciary 
Committee.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his 
leadership.
  This is for the children.
  Can you believe that this is a minimum wage increase spanning over 6 
years, and you hear my colleagues on the other side of the aisle. This 
will allow small businesses to go in gradually and then provide all of 
these dollars into the economy.
  This is for the children.
  I just heard from a mother who works for McDonald's who cannot 
provide for her children and is on food stamps.
  Mr. Speaker, 41.3 percent of those in my district will benefit in 
Texas in the 18th Congressional District. This will help the gender 
gap. But more importantly, it will benefit 19 million children whose 
parents will get a raise.
  It will increase worker productivity by incentivizing people to work 
harder; reduce the gender gap, as women make up a disproportionate 
share of minimum wage workers; and reduce the rate at which renters 
default on their leases by giving families more money to spend on their 
household budgets.
  Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record statistics relating to the 18th 
Congressional District of Texas.

                          Texas 18th District

       Share of workers affected: 41.3%
       Total workers affected: 155,800
       Total wage increase for all affected workers (thousands, 
     2018$): $638,584
       Chanqe in avg. annual earnings among all $4,100 year-round 
     affected workers (2018$): $4,100
       Percent change in avg. annual earnings among all year-round 
     affected workers: 18.6%
       Ages 16 to 24--Total workers affected: 41,400
       Ages 16 to 24--Share affected: 81.8%
       Ages 25 to 39--Total workers affected: 63,900
       Ages 25 to 39--Share affected: 41.0%
       Ages 40 to 54--Total workers affected: 33,100
       Ages 40 to 54--Share affected: 29.4%
       Ages 55 or older--Total workers affected: 17,400
       Ages 55 or older--Share affected: 29.8%
       Men--Total workers affected: 72,000
       Men--Share affected: 35.1%
       Women--Total workers affected: 83,900
       Women--Share affected: 48.5%
       Asian or other--Total workers affected: 7,600
       Asian or other--Share affected: 29.2%
       Black--Total workers affected: 49,100
       Black--Share affected: 40.8
       White--Total workers affected: 10,000
       White--Share affected: 15.7%
       Hispanic--Total workers affected: 89,100
       Hispanic--Share affected: 53.2%

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, apartment complexes, local stores, 
local clothing stores, churches, and nonprofits benefit from the 
generosity of individuals who now have a decent wage.
  I am standing with working people and unions. I am standing with the 
American people and 41.3 percent of my district.
  Let us raise the minimum wage. That is the right thing to do. It is 
for our children.
  Mr. Speaker, as an original cosponsor, I rise in strong support of 
H.R. 582, the ``Raise the Wage Act.''
  With the passage of this bill, the House of Representatives will take 
another step in making good on its commitment to working families and 
individuals to put their economic interests and concerns first and 
attach the highest priority to making the real economy work for 
ordinary Americans who work hard, play by the rules, and are struggling 
to get by through no fault of their own.
  We Democrats promised to chart a new direction for America if the 
voters entrusted us with the majority.
  They did and with our votes today in support of H.R. 582, we are 
making good on our promise.
  Mr. Speaker, before I discuss the importance of this bill in detail, 
I wish to commend Chairman Scott, Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader 
Hoyer, Majority Whip Clyburn, and the rest of the Democratic 
leadership, as well as my colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus, 
which is led so ably by Congressman Bass.
  Because of their resolve and visionary leadership, more than 27 
million workers, and as many as 34 million, will soon receive a long 
overdue raise.

[[Page H7118]]

  What a difference an election makes.
  H.R. 582 helps the most deserving American families by raising the 
minimum wage from $7.25 to $15.00 over six years, and indexing 
increases after that to median wage growth.
  Mr. Speaker, did you know that the value of the current minimum wage 
represents a 51-year low?
  Had the minimum wage kept pace with inflation, it would be $10.15 
today, nearly $3 more per hour than it is currently.
  If the wages of that worker had kept up with the pace of productivity 
growth, the minimum wage would be $19.33, over $40,000 per year.
  It is scandalous, Mr. Speaker, that a person can work full-time, 40 
hours per week, for 52 weeks, earning the minimum wage and would gross 
just $15,000, which is $6,100 below the $25,100 needed to lift a family 
of three out of poverty.
  In 2018, the average CEO was paid 1,140 times the amount earned 
yearly by a minimum wage worker.
  Mr. Speaker, since 2009 the cost of college tuition has risen more 
than 40 percent and health insurance premiums have skyrocketed by 41 
percent.
  But during that time, the minimum wage has not increased one cent.
  That is unconscionable and downright un-American.
  H.R. 582, the Raise the Wage Act, will change this sorry state of 
affairs.
  Mr. Speaker, today more than ever America's hard-working families are 
feeling squeezed, living paycheck to paycheck.
  I can tell you, Mr. Speaker, that prices at the pump, skyrocketing 
health care costs and the rising cost of college in the face of falling 
or flat wages, are squeezing hard-working Texans in my Houston-based 
Congressional District as they struggle to make ends meet.
  That is why I support increasing the minimum wage.
  For Texas workers the basic cost of living is rising; it is only fair 
that the pay for hard-working Texans does too.
  Mr. Speaker, 29 states and the District of Columbia have increased 
their minimum wage above the federal minimum of $7.25 per hour, but 
regrettably my home state of Texas is not one of them.
  For approximately 4.7 million Texans and nearly 155,800 hardworking 
persons in the 18th Congressional District of Texas, passage of the 
Raise the Wage Act would bring immediate, tangible, and substantial 
economic benefits.
  Increasing the minimum wage would give these families a much needed 
additional $4,100 a year to meet critical needs such as rent, health 
care, food and child care.
  The increase the minimum wage to $15.00 per hour over the next six 
years will not allow workers to live as large as the typical CEO, who 
now earns 1,140 times more than a minimum wage worker, but at least it 
will allow these low-wage workers to make a little better life for 
themselves and their families.
  Raising the minimum wage will benefit working families:
  1. Benefit 19 million children whose parents will get a raise;
  2. Increase worker productivity by incentivizing people to work 
harder;
  3. Reduce the gender wage gap, as women make up a disproportionate 
share of minimum wage workers; and
  4. Reduce the rate at which renters default on their leases by giving 
families more money to spend on their household budgets.
  Increasing the minimum wage will also provide a boost to the economy, 
since lower wage workers are more likely than other income groups to 
spend extra earnings immediately and researchers estimate that a 10 
percent increase in the minimum wage would increase sales by around $2 
billion each year.
  Mr. Speaker, the earnings of minimum wage workers are crucial to 
their families' well-being since the average minimum wage worker brings 
home more than half (51.9 percent) of his or her family's weekly 
earnings.
  Raising the minimum wage helps women and workers of color.
  More than 49,000, or 41 percent, of African American workers and 
89,100, or 53.2 percent of Hispanic workers in my congressional 
district would get a raise under the Raise the Wage Act.
  The Raise the Wage Act would substantially increase the purchasing 
power of 83,900, or 48.5 percent, of low-wage women workers in my 
district.
  Since women make up nearly two-thirds of all minimum wage workers, 
the Raise the Wage Act would provide the greatest benefit to workers of 
color and women.
  Single mothers would benefit disproportionately from an increase--
single mothers are 10.4 percent of workers affected by an increase, but 
they make up only 5.3 percent of the overall workforce.
  Approximately 1.8 million Texas parents with children under 18 would 
benefit.
  Contrary to popular myths and urban legends, adults make up the 
largest share of workers (80 percent) who would benefit from a minimum 
wage increase:
  More than half (54 percent) of workers who would benefit from a 
minimum wage increase work full time and another third (34.5 percent) 
work between 20 and 34 hours per week.
  Minimum wage increases benefit disadvantaged workers, and women are 
the largest group of beneficiaries:
  1. More than 23 million (66 percent) of workers who would benefit 
from an increase to $15.00 are women.
  2. Approximately 11.2 million (28 percent) of workers who would 
benefit from an increase to $15.00 are the parents of 14.4 million 
children, and of these, 5.4 million (48 percent) are single parents. In 
my District in Texas, 41.3 percent of the workers would benefit.
  A disproportionate share of persons of color would benefit from a 
minimum wage increase:
  1. African Americans represent 11.1 percent of the total workforce 
but are 15.3 percent of workers affected by an increase.
  2. Similarly, 13.4 percent of the total workforce is Hispanic, but 
Hispanics are 19.7 percent of workers affected by an increase.
  The benefits of an increase minimum wage disproportionately help 
those working households at the bottom of the income scale.
  Although households in the bottom 20 percent received only 5.1 
percent of national income, 38.1 percent of the benefits of a minimum 
wage increase to $15.00 would go to these workers.
  Thirty-six percent of such workers actually contribute 100 percent of 
their family's earnings.
  A minimum wage increase would help reverse the trend of declining 
real wages for low-wage workers.
  Between 2009 and 2018, the minimum wage lost 29 percent of its real 
value.
  In contrast, between 1989 and 1997, the year it was raised to $5.15, 
the minimum wage was raised four times and recovered about one-third of 
the value it lost in the 1980s.
  Income inequality has been increasing, in part, because of the 
declining real value of the minimum wage.
  Mr. Speaker, the opponents of the minimum wage often claim that 
increasing the wage will cost jobs and harm the economy.
  Of course, Mr. Speaker there is no credible to support such claims.
  The truth is that following the most recent increase in the minimum 
wage in 2009, and the rescue of the economy by President Barack Obama 
after the Great Recession, the country went on to enjoy one the more 
sustained period of economic prosperity in history.
  Mr. Speaker, studies have shown that the best performing small 
businesses are located in states with the highest minimum wages.
  The job growth for small businesses in states with a minimum wage 
higher than the federal level was 9,4 percent compared to a 6.6 percent 
growth in states where the federal level prevailed.
  So much for the discredited notion that raising the minimum wage 
harms the economy; it does not.
  But raising the minimum wage helps the economy by increasing the 
purchasing power of those who most need the money, which is far more 
than can be said of the Republicans' devotion to cutting taxes for 
billionaires and multimillionaires.
  Mr. Speaker, Americans overwhelmingly side with progressive 
principles of rewarding hard work with a living wage.
  A post-election Hill-Harris poll found that 82 percent of Americans 
favored the hourly minimum wage and a clear majority, 55 percent, 
favored increasing the minimum wage to $15.00, while only 14 percent 
favored keeping in place the current $7.25 wage rate.
  Mr. Speaker, it is time we gave the Americans we represent a long-
over due pay raise by increasing the minimum wage to $15.00 over six 
years and indexing future increases to the growth in median wages so 
that a full-time worker making the minimum wage can afford the basic 
essentials, which is not the case today anywhere in America.
  I urge all members to support this necessary and timely legislation.
  Vote aye on H.R. 582, the ``Raise the Wage Act.''

                              {time}  1045

  Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance 
of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, I do take offense at anyone who characterizes 
Republicans as not caring about children, not caring about women, not 
caring about people of color, and not caring about people in poverty. 
We care for all people, too, Mr. Speaker, and I want to make that very 
clear. We will disagree philosophically, but we care about people, and 
we love our fellow Americans.
  Democrats continue to point to figures of potential wage increases in 
our congressional districts, but not once have they acknowledged that 
CBO estimates that as many as three jobs could

[[Page H7119]]

be lost for every one person pulled out of poverty.
  So will the Democrats who vote for this bill come to our 
congressional districts and answer for the jobs lost?
  Will they look at the women and young people and those without a high 
school degree who will face the brunt of the job losses from this bill 
in our congressional districts?
  The harm inflicted by this bill far outweighs the benefits. We should 
not inflict that pain on our constituents just to satisfy a far left, 
socialist political promise. The economy is growing, wages are rising, 
and opportunities are increasing. We should not dampen this progress 
with any kind of policy.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to oppose this costly, job-killing 
bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record letters from the following 
organizations in support of the Raise the Wage Act: the National 
Employment Law Project, cosigned by 500 other organizations, AFSCME, 
the National Women's Law Center, Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights 
Under Law, National Urban League, Disability Coalition, healthcare 
groups, Interreligious Working Group on Domestic Human Needs, First 
Focus Campaign for Children, NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, 
Oxfam, Americans for Democratic Action, National Employment Lawyers 
Association, and a recent article in Politico by Reverend William 
Barber.

                              National Employment Law Project,

                                                    July 15, 2019.
       Dear Representative: The National Employment Law Project 
     (NELP), a non-profit organization that advocates on behalf of 
     workers in low-wage jobs, enthusiastically supports the Raise 
     the Wage Act of 2019. We urge you to vote Yes on the bill and 
     No on any Motion to Recommit when the measure comes before 
     the House later this week.
       Last month, our nation marked a shameful milestone when the 
     longest period passed without an increase since the 1938 
     enactment of the minimum wage. Nearly ten years have passed 
     since the last increase to $7.25 on July 24, 2009. The cost 
     of wage stagnation for workers making wages at or near the 
     federal minimum wage is inexcusable in a country with the 
     collective wealth we enjoy and with an economy that is 
     booming for those who already live comfortable lives.
       The Raise the Wage Act will gradually raise the federal 
     minimum wage to $15 by 2025, gradually eliminate the 
     subminimum wages for tipped, disabled and youth workers, and 
     eventually index the minimum wage so that it rises as all 
     other wages rise.
       If signed into law, this Act will not only dramatically 
     decrease poverty and income inequality. By phasing out 
     subminimum wages and restoring the value of the federal 
     minimum wage, this Act will also help address the 
     systemically lower wages disproportionately affecting people 
     of color, women and disabled workers as a result of the 
     structural inequities baked into our current federal minimum 
     wage policy.
       Though opponents of raising the minimum wage will claim 
     that it will result in job loss, these prophesies of doom 
     have no basis in fact. Just two weeks ago, a detailed and 
     rigorous study of minimum wage increases since 2005, 
     including the first increases that went to $15, demonstrated 
     that there are no discernable negative effects on employment 
     or hours worked. Rather, it found that minimum wage increases 
     lead to substantial declines in household and child poverty. 
     Further studies show that raising the minimum wage also leads 
     to a reduction in suicides, a decrease in criminal 
     recidivism, improved maternal and child health, increased 
     consumer spending, increased worker productivity, lower 
     turnover in jobs, and rise in employment of older workers.
       It's no wonder that the minimum wage enjoys such broad 
     popular support, with polling showing 65% for a $15 federal 
     minimum wage even in battleground Congressional districts.
       This bill is a crucial step forward in the move to raise 
     wages, fight income inequality, reduce poverty, and eradicate 
     at least some measure of racial, gender and disability 
     discrimination that is inherent in our federal minimum wage 
     policy. It is also an important step in making sure that 
     working people achieve a more equitable share of the rewards 
     of their labor.
       We hope that you will stand with the nearly 35 million 
     workers who will receive a raise if the Raise the Wage Act is 
     passed and vote Yes on the bill and No on any Motion to 
     Recommit that is offered.
           Sincerely,
                                               Christine L. Owens,
     Executive Director.
                                  ____



                                                       AFSCME,

                                    Washington, DC, July 15, 2019.
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Representative: On behalf of the members of the 
     American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees 
     (AFSCME), I am writing in support of the ``Raise the Wage Act 
     of 2019'' (H.R. 582). This legislation would have a critical 
     impact on millions of workers by gradually lifting the 
     current federal minimum wage.
       The current federal minimum wage rate of $7.25 an hour 
     makes it very difficult for workers to meet basic family 
     needs. The last federal minimum wage increase was in 2009. 
     This unjustifiable delay contributes to wage stagnation in 
     our country. A full-time minimum-wage worker earning the 
     federal minimum wage makes barely $15,000 per year. A worker 
     supporting two kids on an equivalent salary would not even 
     make enough to reach the poverty level. Taking that into 
     consideration coupled with the fact that most minimum-wage 
     jobs rarely include health insurance coverage or child-care 
     assistance, it should be easy to understand why working 
     families in America deserve better. As a result of wage 
     stagnation and income disparity nearly 40 percent of all 
     American families struggle with basic needs.
       Raising the minimum wage lifts the wages of low-wage 
     workers but also helps to raise the wages of all workers. 
     H.R. 582 allows for a raise in the federal minimum wage to 
     $8.55 this year and increases over the next six years until 
     it reaches $15 an hour at the end of that period. 
     Subsequently, the minimum wage will adjust each year to keep 
     pace with growth in typical workers' wages. The legislation 
     also immediately phases out the outdated subminimum wage for 
     tipped workers, which has been frozen at a meager $2.13 since 
     1991 and sunsets the subminimum wage for workers with 
     disabilities.
       Raising the minimum wage will help grow the economy. 
     Workers who are paid a living wage are more productive, and 
     more likely to spend their extra earnings immediately.
       America needs a raise. AFSCME strongly supports the ``Raise 
     the Wage Act of 2019.'' The 10-year delay has pushed millions 
     of working families below the poverty line. Please vote yes 
     on the bill and no on any efforts to weaken it, including any 
     motions to recommit.
           Sincerely,
                                                       Scott Frey,
     Director of Federal Government Affairs.
                                  ____



                                  National Women's Law Center,

                                                    July 15, 2019.
     Re: Pass the Raise the Wage Act of 2019
       Dear Representative: On behalf of the National Women's Law 
     Center, I strongly urge you to vote for the Raise the Wage 
     Act of 2019 when it comes to the House floor, and vote 
     against any Motion to Recommit, or any amendment that would 
     limit the scope of the bill or create anything other than a 
     single, fair, and adequate federal minimum wage for all 
     working people in the United States. Like the recently passed 
     Paycheck Fairness Act, the Raise the Wage Act is essential to 
     advance equal pay for women and economic security for their 
     families.
       Today, women across the country--especially women of 
     color--continue to experience a pay gap and a higher risk of 
     poverty than men. Women working full time, year round 
     typically make only 80 percent of what their male 
     counterparts make, leaving a wage gap of 20 cents on the 
     dollar. This wage gap varies by race and is larger for women 
     of color: Black women working full time, year round typically 
     make only 61 cents, Native women only 58 cents, and Latinas 
     only 53 cents, for every dollar paid to their white, non-
     Hispanic male counterparts. While Asian American and Pacific 
     Islander (AAPI) women make 85 cents for every dollar paid to 
     white, non-Hispanic men, many AAPI communities experience 
     drastically wider pay gaps.
       The Paycheck Fairness Act will address the pay 
     discrimination, often cloaked by employer-imposed pay secrecy 
     policies, that is one factor driving these persistent wage 
     gaps. But women's overrepresentation in low-wage jobs is 
     another key factor: women are close to two-thirds of the 
     workforce in jobs that pay the minimum wage or just a few 
     dollars above it, and more than two-thirds of workers in 
     tipped jobs. Women of color are particularly overrepresented 
     among tipped workers and other low-wage workers. And they are 
     particularly harmed by a $7.25 federal minimum wage that has 
     not gone up in a decade--and by a $2.13 tipped minimum cash 
     wage that has been frozen for an astonishing 28 years.
       The Raise the Wage Act will raise the federal minimum wage 
     from $7.25 to $15 an hour by 2025, then index the minimum 
     wage so that it continues to rise along with wages overall. 
     It will also end unfair exclusions for tipped workers, people 
     with disabilities, and youth so that they, too, can benefit 
     from a decent minimum wage. The Economic Policy Institute 
     (EPI) estimates that the bill (as introduced) would give 
     nearly one in three working women a raise, including 41 
     percent of Black working women, 38 percent of working 
     Latinas, 29 percent of white working women, and 18 percent of 
     Asian working women. Because women are the majority of 
     workers who would see their pay go up, wage gaps would likely 
     narrow as well; indeed, NWLC research shows that women 
     working full time, year round in states with a minimum wage 
     of at least $10 per hour face a gender wage gap that is one-
     third smaller than the wage gap across states with a $7.25 
     minimum wage. And in ``One Fair Wage'' states where employers 
     already have to pay their tipped workers the regular minimum 
     wage before tips, the average poverty rate for women tipped 
     workers is lower--and wage gaps for women overall are 
     smaller--

[[Page H7120]]

     than in states that follow the $2.13 federal standard. One 
     Fair Wage also ensures that women in tipped jobs have a 
     paycheck they can count on, making them less vulnerable to 
     the sexual harassment from customers that women can feel 
     forced to tolerate when they have to rely on tips for nearly 
     all of their income.
       A $15 minimum wage will make a meaningful difference for 
     millions across the country who are struggling to put food on 
     the table, access the health care they need, and support 
     themselves and their families. But it is still a modest wage 
     relative to the expenses that women and their families face 
     every day, no matter where they live in the United States. 
     According to EPI, by 2025, a single worker without children 
     will need at least full-time earnings at $15 an hour ($31,200 
     annually) to meet basic needs, and workers in costlier areas 
     and those supporting families will need more. By establishing 
     a $15 federal minimum wage by 2025 and phasing out harmful 
     exclusions, the Raise the Wage Act gradually reaches a single 
     wage floor that will benefit working people and our economy 
     nationwide.
       We strongly urge you to reject any amendments or 
     alternatives that would establish a regional minimum wage at 
     the federal level, which would leave women of color behind 
     and cement the wage disparities that the Raise the Wage Act 
     is critically needed to address. And we urge you equally 
     strongly to reject any and all carveouts for certain 
     employers or certain types of employees. Equal pay for women 
     requires a single, fair, and decent federal wage floor for 
     all working people across the country--including the tipped 
     workers, young workers, and workers with disabilities who 
     have been harmed by exclusionary policies for generations.
       Women and people of color have been left behind by our 
     economy and our policies far too often, for far too long. 
     Adopting the Raise the Wage Act will mark a vitally important 
     step toward ensuring they can work with equity, dignity, and 
     safety. We urge you to pass the Raise the Wage Act on the 
     House floor and reject any alternative, or any amendments 
     that would reduce its strength or scope.
           Sincerely,

                                              Emily J. Martin,

                                      Vice President for Education
     & Workplace Justice.
                                  ____

                                            Lawyers' Committee for


                                       Civil Rights Under Law,

                                                    July 12, 2019.
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Representative, On behalf of the Lawyers' Committee 
     for Civil Rights Under Law (hereinafter ``Lawyers'' 
     Committee''), a nonpartisan civil rights organization formed 
     at the request of President Kennedy to enlist the private bar 
     in providing legal services to address racial discrimination, 
     we urge you to vote for H.R. 582, the Raise the Wage Act, and 
     against any motion to recommit (MTR) the bill. The Raise the 
     Wage Act is a necessary step to increase the federal minimum 
     wage, which has remained at $7.25 per hour for ten years, and 
     phase out the subminimum wage for tipped workers, which has 
     been frozen at $2.13 for nearly three decades. The Act would 
     raise wages for millions of workers of color and reverse the 
     growing trend of pay inequality that disproportionately 
     impacts African Americans, Hispanics and other people of 
     color.
       The Lawyers' Committee strongly believes the Raise the Wage 
     Act is an essential step towards reducing pay inequality and 
     achieving economic security for communities of color. Our 
     economy has grown immensely over the past several decades, 
     but wages have not--particularly for people of color. Workers 
     of color are more likely to be among the working poor, with 
     African American and Hispanic women respectively making up 
     10.5% and 9.6%, compared to 4.9% of white women. 
     Additionally, people of color disproportionately live in 
     poverty, with 20% of African Americans and 16% of Hispanics 
     living in poverty compared to 8% of whites. With the Raise 
     the Wage Act, nearly two-fifths of African Americans and one-
     third of Hispanics would receive a raise, lifting many of 
     these families out of poverty and ensuring they can work with 
     equity, dignity and safety.
       We urge you to vote for final passage of the Raise the Wage 
     Act and against any motion to recommit because all workers, 
     especially workers of color, need and deserve adequate wages 
     to achieve economic security.
           Respectfully submitted,
                                                    Kristen Clark,
     President & Executive Director.
                                  ____

                                                    July 16, 2019.
       The undersigned organizations enthusiastically support the 
     Raise the Wage Act of 2019, introduced by Senators Bernie 
     Sanders (VT) and Patty Murray (WA), Representatives Robert C. 
     ``Bobby'' Scott (VA), Mark Pocan (WI) and Stephanie Murphy 
     (FL).
       If enacted, this legislation would:
        Gradually raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an 
     hour in 2025;
        After 2025, adjust the minimum wage each year to 
     keep pace with growth in the typical worker's wages;
        Phase out the outdated subminimum wage for tipped 
     workers, which has been frozen at a meager $2.13 since 1991; 
     and,
        Sunset the much criticized ability of employers to 
     pay workers with disabilities a subminimum wage through 
     certificates issued by DOL.
        Phase out the subminimum wage for workers under 
     the age of 20.
       At a time when wage stagnation and income inequality pose 
     serious threats to our families and our economy, the Raise 
     the Wage Act of 2019 will begin to reverse that cycle and 
     raise pay broadly across the bottom of the workforce. 
     According to the Economic Policy Institute, this Act will 
     deliver long-overdue raises to more than 1 in 4 workers, 90% 
     of whom are over the age of 20. The average age of workers 
     who would get a raise is 35, nearly half have some years of 
     college education. In fact, those who work year-round would 
     see a raise in the order of $3,000 a year, which is enough to 
     make a tremendous difference in the life of a preschool 
     teacher, bank teller, or fastfood worker who today struggles 
     to get by on around $20,000 per year.
       28 percent are working parents with children, and half have 
     family incomes of less than $40,000 per year. Women make up 
     nearly 58 percent of the workers who would benefit from a $15 
     minimum wage, which would be instrumental in helping to close 
     the gender-wage-gap. Raising the minimum wage to $15 would 
     also significantly benefit workers of color, with 38 percent 
     of African American workers and 33 percent of Latinos seeing 
     a pay increase once this law goes into effect.
       These are the frontline workers who make America run--yet 
     due to the erosion of the real value of the minimum wage over 
     the last half century, they are struggling even as our 
     economy enjoys a solid recovery.
       The time for the Raise the Wage Act is long overdue, and we 
     cannot delay in working toward its passage. We call on 
     Congress to enact this important piece of legislation as 
     quickly as possible, and for President Trump to sign it when 
     it comes to his desk.
           Sincerely,
       9to5; A Better Balance; A Place at the Table; AAUW Texas; 
     Abortion Care Network; ACCESS Women's Health Justice; 
     Accessible Housing Resources, Inc. (AHRI); Action Inc.; 
     Action Together NEPA; ADAPT Montana.
       Advocate For Justice Inc.; Advocates for Youth; AFL-CIO; 
     African American Ministers In Action; Agape Missions, NFP; 
     AIDS Alabama South, LLC; Alabama Arise; Alameda County 
     Community Food Bank; Alianza Nacional de Campesinas, Inc.; 
     All Our Kin.
       Allegheny Valley Association of Churches; All-Options; 
     Amara Legal Center; American Association of People with 
     Disabilities; American Association of University Women; 
     American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees 
     (AFSCME); American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO; American 
     Federation of Teachers, Washington; American Postal Workers 
     Union--St Louis Gateway District Area Local; American 
     Psychological Association.
       American Public Health Association; Americans for 
     Democratic Action (ADA); Anne Arundel County NOW; Appalachian 
     lndepoendence Center, Inc.; Arizona Center for Economic 
     Progress; Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families; Asian 
     Law Alliance; Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO; 
     Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living; 
     Association of U.S. Catholic Priests (AUSCP).
       ATD Fourth World Movement; Atlanta Community Food Bank; 
     AtWork!; AUSCP--Association of U.S. Catholic Priests; 
     Autistic Self Advocacy Network; Autistic Women & Nonbinary 
     Network; Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law; Bend the Arc: 
     Jewish Action; Benedictine Sisters of Erie; Black AIDS 
     Institute.
       Black Women's Roundtable; Bread for the World; Bucks County 
     Women's Advocacy Coalition; CA Capital Chapter--Coalition of 
     Labor Union Women; California Employment Lawyers Association; 
     California Food Policy Advocates; Cambridge United for 
     Justice with Prace; Campaign for America's Future; Campesinos 
     Sin Fronteras; CAP Services, lnc./Community Assets for 
     People.
       CARECEN-Central American Resource Center; Caring Across 
     Generations; CASA; CASA of Oregon; Catalyst for Positive 
     Change!; Catholic Charities of Chemung/Schuyler counties, NY; 
     Center for Changing Lives; Center for Groveport Madison Human 
     Needs; Center for Independence of the Disabled, NY; Center 
     for Law and Social Policy (CLASP).
       Center for New York City Affairs at The New School; Center 
     for Popular Democracy Action; Center for Public Policy 
     Priorities; Center for Public Representation; Centro de los 
     Derechos del Migrante, Inc.; ChangeLab Solutions; Chester 
     County Food Bank; Chicago Chapter of RESULTS, Domestic; 
     Chicago Jobs Council; Chicago Women's AIDS Project.
       Child Care Resources; Children's Defense Fund; Children's 
     Advocacy Institute; Church World Service; Cities of Peace 
     Detroit; Civil Liberties and Public Policy Program; Cleveland 
     Nonviolence Network; CLUW of Southwestern PA; CLUW: NORTHEAST 
     CLEVELAND CHAPTER; Coalition Ending Gender-Based Violence.
       Coalition for Low Income Pennsylvanians; Coalition of Black 
     Trade Unionist--Northern California; Coalition of Labor Union 
     Women; Coalition of Labor Union Women GPA; Coalition on Human 
     Needs; Collaborative Center for Justice; Collin County 
     Democrats With Disabilities (CCDWD); Collin County Voters 
     With Disabilities; Colorado Center on Law and Policy; 
     Colorado Coalition for the Homeless.
       Communications Workers of America (CWA); Communities 
     Creating Opportunity; Community Action Agency of Somerville, 
     Inc.; Community Action Partnership, NJ;

[[Page H7121]]

     Community Advocates of Northern Indiana; Community Labor 
     United; Community Reinvestment Alliance of South Florida; 
     Congregation Beth El, Berkeley; Congregation of Our Lady of 
     Charity of the Good Shepherd, US Provinces; Congregation of 
     Our Lady of the Good Shepherd, US Provinces.
       Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes; Congregation of the 
     Infant Jesus Nursing Sisters of the Sick Poor, Inc.; 
     Connecticut Association for Human Services, Inc; Connecticut 
     Legal Services, Inc.; Connecticut Voices for Children; 
     Cronucopia Community Advocates; CWA Local 6450; D.C. Hunger 
     Solutions; Dakota Prairie Community Action Agency.
       DC KinCare Alliance; DC Language Access Coalition; DC Law 
     Students in Court; DC Volunteer Lawyers Project; DCAEHS, 
     Inc.; Delaware Ecumenical Council on Children and Families; 
     Demos; Disability Law Center; Disability Rights Education & 
     Defense Fund (DREDF); Disability Voters of Maine.
       Disabled in Action of Greater Syracuse Inc.; Disciples 
     Center for Public Witness (Disciples of Christ); Disciples 
     Justice Action Network; Dominican Development Center, Inc.; 
     Dominican Sisters--Grand Rapids; Dominican Sisters of 
     Houston; DV LEAP; East Central Illinois Community Action 
     Agency; East Hampton Housing Authority; EcoC2S.
       Economic Opportunity Institute; Economic Policy Institute; 
     Economic Progress Institute; Economic Roundtable; Ecumenical 
     Poverty Initiative; Educate. Advocate.; Education Equals 
     Making Community Connections; Equal Pay Today; Equal Rights 
     Advocates; Equality California.
       Equality North Carolina; Estreet Verdors Assiotation Of 
     Chicago (SVAC); Faith Voices Arkansas; Family Promise of 
     Greater Des Moines; Family Promise of Knoxville; Family 
     Values@Work; Farmworker Association of Florida; Feeding 
     Texas; Feminist Majority; First Christian Church.
       First Focus Campaign for Children; First United Methodist 
     Church; Florida Impact; Food Chain Workers Alliance; Food 
     Finders Food Bank; Food Lifeline; Food Research & Action 
     Center (FRAC); For Our Future PA; Freedom Network USA; 
     Futures Without Violence.
       GCC/IBT Local 24M/9N; Gender Justice; GLBTQ Legal Advocates 
     & Defenders (GLAD); Global Justice Institute, Metropolitan 
     Community Churches; Godwin-Ternbach Museum, Queens College, 
     CUNY; Good Jobs Nation; GRANDS AS PARENTS INC; Greater Kansas 
     City Coalition of Labor Union Women; Greater New Jersey CLUW 
     Chapter; Greater Oklahoma City Chapter CLUW.
       Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank; Grey Nuns of the 
     Sacred Heart; H.O.P.E.; HANA Center; Hawaii Appleseed; Head 
     Start; Headstart; HEAL Trafficking; Healthy and Free 
     Tennessee; HEAR US Inc.
       Hill Snowdon Foundation; Hispanic Federation; Holy Cross 
     Ministries; Housing Authority of the County of Lawrence; 
     Housing Choice Partners; Howard Brown Health; Hudson County 
     Housing Resource Center; Humanity; Hunger Action Network of 
     NYS; Hunger Free Vermont.
       Hunger Solutions New York; Idaho Interfaith Roundtable 
     Against Hunger; IHM Sisters IHM Sisters Justice, Peace and 
     Sustainability Office; lllinois Hunger Coalition; Illinois 
     Collaboration on Youth; Impact Fund; In Our Own Voice: 
     National Black Women's Reproductive Justice Agenda; Indiana 
     Community Action Association; Indiana Institute for Working 
     Families; Indivisible Michigan 8th--Ingham.
       Inspirational Gospel Assembly; Interfaith Impact of New 
     York State; Interfaith Worker Justice; International Labor 
     Rights Forum; International Union, United Automobile, 
     Aerospace, and Agricultural Implement Workers of America, 
     UAW; Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement; Iowa Coalition 
     Against Domestic Violence.
                                  ____


                     [From Politico, July 17, 2019]

                     The Racist History of Tipping

                   (By Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II)

       This week, the House of Representatives will have a chance 
     to end a pernicious legacy of slavery. Lawmakers will vote on 
     the Raise the Wage Act, which would boost the minimum wage 
     across the country to $15 an hour by 2024. This would be a 
     crucial step toward the first federal minimum wage increase 
     in more than a decade.
       A just-released Congressional Budget Office report finds 
     that a $15 minimum wage would have tremendous benefits for 
     low-wage workers of all races and ethnicities. Yet the stakes 
     are particularly high for black workers. The share who would 
     benefit from the Raise the Wage Act is far larger than the 
     share of white workers who would benefit--38 percent compared 
     with 23 percent.
       There's another provision in the legislation--eliminating 
     the subminimum tipped wage--that corrects a wrong that goes 
     much further back than the previous federal minimum wage 
     increase. For workers regularly making more than $30 a month 
     in tips, employers can currently pay as little as $2.13 an 
     hour. That subminimum wage has been frozen at this level for 
     decades. Should the Raise the Wage Act pass the House, it 
     will mark the first time that either chamber of Congress has 
     moved to eliminate the subminimum wage, which not only 
     deepens economic inequalities but also happens to be a relic 
     of slavery.
       You might not think of tipping as a legacy of slavery, but 
     it has a far more racialized history than most Americans 
     realize. Tipping originated in feudal Europe and was imported 
     back to the United States by American travelers eager to seem 
     sophisticated. The practice spread throughout the country 
     after the Civil War as U.S. employers, largely in the 
     hospitality sector, looked for ways to avoid paying formerly 
     enslaved workers.
       One of the most notorious examples comes from the Pullman 
     Company, which hired newly freed African American men as 
     porters. Rather than paying them a real wage, Pullman 
     provided the black porters with just a meager pittance, 
     forcing them to rely on tips from their white clientele for 
     most of their pay.
       Tipping further entrenched a unique and often racialized 
     class structure in service jobs, in which workers must please 
     both customer and employer to earn anything at all. A 
     journalist quoted in Kerry Segrave's 2009 book, Tipping: An 
     American Social History of Gratuities, wrote in 1902 that he 
     was embarrassed to offer a tip to a white man. ``Negroes take 
     tips, of course; one expects that of them--it is a token of 
     their inferiority,'' he wrote. ``Tips go with servility, and 
     no man who is a voter in this country is in the least 
     justified in being in service.''
       The immorality of paying an insufficient wage to workers, 
     who then were forced to rely on tips, was acknowledged at the 
     time. In his popular 1916 anti-tipping study, The Itching 
     Palm, writer William Scott described tipping as an 
     aristocratic custom that went against American ideals. ``The 
     relation of a man giving a tip and a man accepting it is as 
     undemocratic as the relation of master and slave,'' Scott 
     wrote. ``A citizen in a republic ought to stand shoulder to 
     shoulder with every other citizen, with no thought of 
     cringing, without an assumption of superiority or an 
     acknowledgment of inferiority.''
       Several states sought to end the practice in the early 
     1900s, often in recognition of its racist roots. But the 
     restaurant industry fought back and was powerful enough to 
     roll back local bans on tipping. And tipped workers--along 
     with most others, as the act applied to industries that 
     together made up only one-fifth of the labor force--were 
     excluded from the first, limited federal minimum wage law 
     passed in 1938.
       It took until 1966 for advocates to win a base wage for 
     tipped workers, and that amounted to only 50 percent of the 
     minimum wage already guaranteed to other workers. Congress 
     continued to raise the subminimum tipped wage until 1996, 
     when Herman Cain, who headed the National Restaurant 
     Association at the time, offered legislators a bargain: The 
     industry would accept a small increase in the minimum wage as 
     long as the tipped wage was frozen at $2.13 an hour.
       Congress agreed to the deal, and the tipped minimum wage 
     remains just $2.13 to this day. Employers are supposed to pay 
     the difference if tips don't bring workers to the full 
     regular minimum wage. But too often that law is not enforced. 
     When the Department of Labor conducted an unusual compliance 
     sweep of 9,000 full-service restaurants between 2010 and 
     2012, they found that 84 percent had violated the subminimum 
     wage system.
       A century later, the industry lobby continues its fight to 
     uphold this two-tiered pay system. Where social movements 
     have gotten cities to pass minimum wage hikes, the lobby has 
     pressured state legislatures to ban local wage increases 
     altogether. The industry also fought to overturn voter-
     approved initiatives in Maine and Washington, D.C., that 
     would have ended the subminimum tipped wage, while they 
     lobbied legislators in Michigan to keep the issue from 
     reaching the ballot in the first place.
       That's why national action to finally reverse this 
     particular vestige of slavery is so vital. No one can live on 
     $2.13 an hour--a poverty wage.
       We may live in a very different society from 150 years ago, 
     but the subminimum tipped wage still exacerbates the 
     inequalities passed down from that time. Workers in the 
     restaurant industry are far more likely to be poor or near-
     poor than the general population. Sure, upscale restaurants 
     where wealthy patrons offer servers good tips on expensive 
     menu items can provide a good living, but those jobs are few 
     and far between--and dominated by white men.
       Research also shows that tipping itself has a racial 
     component: Customers generally give white workers bigger tips 
     than black workers, regardless of service quality. Thanks in 
     part to segregation within the industry and discrimination 
     from patrons, restaurant worker poverty rates are highest for 
     women and people of color.
       Ending the subminimum wage would right one of the 
     historical wrongs keeping certain groups of workers from 
     receiving the full protections they are due, but ultimately, 
     low wages driven by racism hurt workers of all races. Three 
     times as many white workers as black workers stand to get a 
     raise if the federal minimum wage hike passes. Undoing 
     systemic racism opens up opportunities for all people.
       With a Republican Senate and president, the Raise the Wage 
     Act might not become national law in the immediate future. 
     But a vote by the House to end the subminimum tipped wage 
     would send an unmistakable signal to the several states 
     considering similar legislation: The days of these racist 
     tiered wage systems are coming to an end.

  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Will the Chair please tell me how much time is 
remaining.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman has 1\1/2\ minutes remaining.

[[Page H7122]]

  

  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I would just like to say that 
youth workers--we have heard about youth workers--should not be paid 
less for the same work than anyone else. Several of my colleagues have 
pointed out that there may be a $9 billion loss in income. According to 
the CBO, that comes from families making more than $232,000 a year. 
Families making less than that will get an increase in pay.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank all of my colleagues, including members 
of the Committee on Education and Labor and Representatives across the 
Nation who have been instrumental in advancing this legislation. But 
most of all, I want to recognize the workers in communities across the 
country who stood up and demanded a fair day's pay for a fair day's 
work. There are some of them with us today, the Fight for $15 workers, 
the SEIU workers, and others from across the country.
  I also want to acknowledge a broad coalition of business support, 
including Business for a Fair Minimum Wage and the U.S. Women's Chamber 
of Commerce.
  Proposals to increase the minimum wage are always met with the same 
baseless predictions we have heard today. Opponents cried wolf in the 
1930s, and we should not fear the impact of putting money in workers' 
pockets or, as President Roosevelt said in a fireside chat way back in 
1938: ``Do not let any calamity-howling executive with an income of 
$1,000 a day . . . tell you . . . that a wage of $11 a week is going to 
have a disastrous effect on all American industry.''
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to take that advice, pass the Raise 
the Wage Act and give a raise to 33 million Americans. It is a raise 
that is long overdue.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. CUELLAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the importance of 
raising the minimum wage for millions in our country. This important 
legislation raises the wage for 45 percent of workers in my district, 
and provides a wage increase of nearly $640,000.
  The Raise the Wage Act will indeed lift thousands of my constituents 
out of poverty and provide opportunity for economic mobility. However, 
I would like to highlight the work I have done on this legislation to 
make it more amenable to small, family owned businesses.
  While I certainly acknowledge that every day Americans deserve a 
raise, we in Congress must be above rhetoric and talking points. With 
such a significant change proposed to the minimum wage, this must be 
carried out in a precise, tactful manner. As of June of this year, the 
unemployment rate in the United States is a mere 3.7 percent. It is 
critical that policies we pass through this House do not interrupt or 
deter this economic prosperity.
  Furthermore, while I support this important legislation, we must 
consider how it will affect small businesses and their economic 
futures. Therefore, I have negotiated with the Committee a provision to 
lengthen the phase in period to $15 minimum wage until the year 2026.
  Additionally, I am a co-sponsor of the O'Halleran Amendment. This 
amendment will require a comprehensive GAO report on national and 
regional economic impacts of the minimum wage increases in this bill. 
The report will have a special focus on small business and agricultural 
sectors. It will facilitate Congress' ability to make policy changes 
based on the actual economic effects of this legislation.
  Lastly, I submitted two amendments that exempt local and small farms, 
as well as small businesses from the $15 minimum wage. These amendments 
delayed the minimum wage from reaching $15 until the year 2029, as well 
as kept the current ``tipped-wage'' provision for restaurant workers. I 
also sought to create a small business tax credit, along with providing 
two additional years to comply with a doubling of the federal minimum 
wage.
  By providing tax credits, compliance exemptions, and a longer runway 
to $15, my amendments intended to give small businesses the tools they 
need to thrive in the economy this bill will create.
  I was disappointed that my amendments were not included in this 
measure, but will work for their inclusion elsewhere given the vast 
economic benefits that small businesses provide in my community, and 
around the country. There are over 30 million small businesses in the 
United States today. Additionally, there are 24.3 million individually 
operated businesses with no employees. Small businesses employ over 60 
million Americans--nearly half of the private workforce--and there are 
now over 287,000 small business exporters.
  The United States small business community contributes approximately 
$8.5 trillion to the economy, roughly half of the United States total 
$17 trillion GDP.
  Small businesses are the back bone of our country, and the engine 
that drives our economy. While I will vote in favor of this 
legislation, I hope to have my amendments incorporated as this bill 
moves through the legislative process. I include them for the Record.
  Passage of this act is simply the first step. As this legislation 
heads over to the Senate, I look forward to working with my friends to 
improve this bill and ensure further small businesses provisions are 
included, as well as with my colleagues in the House on future 
legislation that would help address these concerns.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank you for the time to recognize the importance of 
small businesses to our great nation, and the need to pay Americans a 
living wage.

                   Amendment to H.R. 582, as reported

                    Offered by Mr. Cuellar of Texas

       Strike section 3 and insert the following new section:

     SEC. 3. MINIMUM WAGE FOR SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS.

       Section 6 of the Fair Labor Standards Act, as amended, is 
     amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(i) Small Business Minimum Wage Rate.--With respect to an 
     employer that is a small business concern (as defined in 
     section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632)), except 
     as otherwise provided in this section, the wage in effect 
     under subsection (a)(1) shall be--
       ``(1) $9.00 an hour during the calendar year 2019;
       ``(2) $9.50 an hour during the calendar year 2020;
       ``(3) $10.00 an hour during the calendar year 2021;
       ``(4) $10.50 an hour during the calendar year 2022;
       ``(5) $11.00 an hour during the calendar year 2023;
       ``(6) $11.50 an hour during the calendar year 2024;
       ``(7) $12.00 an hour during the calendar year 2025;
       ``(8) $12.50 an hour during the calendar year 2026;
       ``(9) $13.00 an hour during the calendar year 2027;
       ``(10) $13.50 an hour during the calendar years 2028, 2029, 
     and 2030; and
       ``(11) $15.00 an hour during the calendar year 2031 and 
     each year thereafter.''.
       Add at the end the following new section:

     SECTION ___. MINIMUM-WAGE EMPLOYEE CREDIT FOR SMALL 
                   EMPLOYERS.

       (a) In General.--Subpart D of part IV of subchapter A of 
     chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by 
     adding at the end the following:

     ``SEC. 45T. MINIMUM-WAGE EMPLOYEE CREDIT FOR SMALL EMPLOYERS.

       ``(a) In General.--For purposes of section 38, in the case 
     of an eligible small employer, the minimum-wage employee 
     credit for a taxable year determined under this section is an 
     amount equal to $200 for each minimum-wage employee of the 
     employer.
       ``(b) Limitation.--The amount of the credit determined 
     under subsection (a) for any taxable year shall not exceed 
     $10,000.
       ``(c) Eligible Small Employer.--For purposes of this 
     section--
       ``(1) In general.--The term `eligible small employer' means 
     an employer with not more than 50 employees.
       ``(2) Aggregation and other rules.--For purposes of this 
     section--
       ``(A) Aggregation rules.--All employers treated as a single 
     employer under subsection (b), (c), (m), or (o) of section 
     414 shall be treated as a single employer.
       ``(B) Other rules.--Rules similar to the rules of 
     subsections (c), (d), and (e) of section 52 shall apply.''.
       (b) Credit to Be Part of General Business Credit.--Section 
     38(b) of such Code is amended by striking ``plus'' at the end 
     of paragraph (31), by striking the period at the end of 
     paragraph (32) and inserting ``, plus'', and by adding at the 
     end the following new paragraph:
       ``(33) in the case of an eligible small employer (as such 
     term is defined in section 45T, the minimum-wage employee 
     credit determined under section 45T(a).''.
       (c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for subpart 
     D of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of such Code is 
     amended by adding at the end the following the item:

``Sec 45T. Minimum-wage employee credit for small employers.''.

       (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall apply to taxable years ending after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act.
                                  ____


                   Amendment to H.R. 582, as Reported

                    Offered by Mr. Cuellar of Texas

       Add at the end the following:

     SEC. __. AGRICULTURE EXEMPTION.

       Nothing in this Act, or the amendments made under this Act, 
     shall be construed to repeal or alter the exemption under 
     section 13(a)(6) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 
     U.S.C. 213(a)(6)).

  Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support the 
Raise the Wage Act that raises the federal minimum wage to $15, This 
bill is smart federal policy that will improve the lives of workers and 
their children

[[Page H7123]]

across the nation, helping them pay their bills, support their 
children, and grow our economy via their increased spending power.
  Many do not remember that--from the outset--the intent was that the 
minimum wage should be a livable wage, The federal minimum wage was 
part of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938; critical legislation 
supporting workers and children by setting a federal minimum wage, 
requiring time-and-a-half pay, and banning the atrocity of child labor 
in factories. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt even said, ``It seems 
to me to be equally plain that no business which depends for existence 
on paying less than living wages to its workers has any right to 
continue in this country . . . and by living wages I mean more than a 
bare subsistence level--I mean the wages of decent living.''
  At a time in our country when the wealth gap is appallingly large, I 
am proud that the Democratic Leadership is prioritizing a livable wage. 
For over a decade millions of hardworking Americans worked full-time 
making just $7.25 an hour. Tipped workers, teen workers, or workers 
with disabilities have made even less. Current law allows tipped 
workers to make just $2.13 an hour plus tips, allows teen workers to be 
paid just $4.25 an hour for their first 90 days, and allows a 
subminimum wage for people with disabilities, unjustly denying them the 
equal pay that they deserve. Men and women throughout the nation work 
full-time yet remain trapped in poverty by their low-wages. According 
to the American Association of University Women, a single mom raising 
two kids while working a full-time minimum wage job earns only about 
$14,500 or $5,000 below the poverty line. Clearly, the current minimum 
wage is not a living wage but a policy that systematically grows the 
divide between the poor and the secure, creating barriers for low-
income workers to break out of poverty.
  The minimum wage increase in this bill will help close the wage gap 
that women--especially African-American and Latina-American women--face 
due to their disproportionate overrepresentation in tipped employment. 
Raising the minimum wages also will reduce child poverty. According to 
the Economic Policy Institute, the increased minimum wage will give 
raises to 41 million women, 28 percent of whom have children.
  As many may know, helping low-income workers is a primary legislative 
priority for me. In my District, almost 31 percent of children live in 
poverty and half of those children live in extreme poverty, Further, 25 
percent of the tax filers in my district are low-income working 
parents. I see the challenges that these children and their families 
face first hand. They are hard-working and incredible people trying to 
better themselves.
  I reject opponents' arguments that increasing the federal minimum 
wage will eviscerate jobs. I know first-hand the benefits of an 
increased minimum wage because the minimum wage in the City of Chicago 
is $13 an hour, much higher than the federal wage of $7.25. According 
to the Illinois Economic Policy Institute, the transition to this wage 
had no impact on the employment rate nor did it negatively affect 
private businesses. Rather, the higher minimum wage created a higher 
demand by low-income households for employment. Given the positive 
outcomes from raising the minimum wage in Chicago and given state-wide 
economic needs, Governor J.B. Pritzker and our state legislators just 
raised the state minimum wage to $15--making Illinois, D.C., and five 
other states national leaders in providing livable wages for their 
workers. Our new law will help almost 1.4 million Illinoisans currently 
making less than $15 an hour, lifting thousands out of poverty and 
growing our economy at the same time.
  Now today as a Congressman, I proudly cast my vote in support of 
raising the federal minimum wage to strengthen workers, families, and 
our economy.
  Mrs. HARTZLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 582. 
This bill is yet another overreaching power-grab from Washington. 
Missouri voters already decided to raise their minimum wage last year. 
However, now the federal government believes it knows better than the 
states and wants to force a one-size-fits-all policy on all Americans. 
Unfortunately, this policy will cost 3.7 million jobs nationwide, and 
would cause nearly half of families with a minimum wage earner to see a 
reduction in household income.
  Even more concerning, H.R. 582 contains a provision to remove choices 
for disabled workers and their families. Section 6 of this bill would 
eliminate the 14(c) certificates which enable Sheltered Workshops to 
operate.
  Sheltered Workshops are non-profit, local, or state organizations 
that provide dignified employment opportunities for individuals who are 
developmentally, physically, or mentally impaired. These opportunities 
are enabled by the 14(c) certificates which allows individuals to be 
paid a wage commensurate with their ability level. Sheltered Workshops 
also provide the necessary tools for those with disabilities to succeed 
in their jobs and can help these individuals acclimate to the 
workforce, and even learn and hone their life and social skills. The 
level of training and support provided by Sheltered Workshops is 
essential to the success of the individuals who work there.
  No family wants fewer options when deciding how to help their child 
with disabilities succeed. That is why the 14(c) provision and the 
Sheltered Workshops provide more options, especially for those who may 
not ``fit'' or desire Vocational Rehabilitation services or Medicaid 
Waiver services. Without the 14(c) provision, many of the people 
working in sheltered workshops would be left to fend for themselves in 
the ``competitive workforce'' or stay home. The 14(c) provision is 
necessary for providing these individuals the tools they need to 
succeed.
  That is why I submitted an amendment to strike Section 6 from H.R. 
582. Unfortunately, my amendment was not made in order which is one 
more reason why I must oppose this flawed legislation. Let's defeat 
this bill and preserve job choices for Americans.
  Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 
582, the Raise the Wage Act. We must advocate for an increase in the 
minimum wage, as stagnant wages impede economic mobility and are a 
detriment to our nation's working class.
  According to the Economic Policy Institute, the current minimum wage 
places nearly 78,000 Texans at this unlivable income, while 118,000 
Texans earn even less. The Raise the Wage Act will result in a 
significant increase in the average annual earnings for Texans. In my 
home district, this figure is estimated to increase by 18.2 percent, 
which will make an immeasurable different in our communities.
  Many people in my district are forced to work multiple jobs for long 
hours to ensure food is on the table for their families. This 
legislation will eliminate this burden on our working-class families. 
The economy may be growing, and wages may be rising, but the benefits 
of economic and wage growth are not felt equally. Individuals working 
40 hours a week should be able to afford the basic necessities for 
themselves and their family.
  I proudly stand in this chamber as a cosponsor of H.R. 582, the Raise 
the Wage Act. I urge my colleagues on both sides to join me in voting 
for this legislation to promote economic freedom and equity for all 
Americans.
  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of H.R. 
582, the Raise the Wage Act, a bill that would radically improve the 
lives of millions of Americans.
  For ten years, the longest period in United States history, workers 
have suffered as the federal minimum wage stayed the same as inflation 
rose. With the same wages and rising prices, workers essentially 
received a 17 percent pay cut. That's unacceptable, and it's about time 
we give American workers a raise.
  Americans are working just as hard as any generation, and yet, they 
are receiving less than their parents and they are struggling to afford 
basic necessities and claim their share of the American dream.
  Nationwide polls show that Americans support raising the minimum wage 
across geographic and party lines.
  Georgia's Second Congressional District, which I represent, is one of 
many that would be most impacted. 43 percent of workers would receive a 
wage increase. A majority of these workers are women and people of 
color, who are disproportionately affected by poverty. The largest age 
group that would benefit are those between the ages of 25 and 39.
  Nationally, raising the minimum wage to $15 would lift 1.3 million 
Americans out of poverty, including 600,000 children. Poverty has 
devastating effects on families, and studies have shown children born 
into poverty have greater difficulties succeeding in the future.
  Mr. Speaker, Americans work hard and should be able to support 
themselves and their families. This bill is modest and gradual, giving 
businesses plenty of time to adjust. Raising the minimum wage is simply 
another way to help our constituents improve their lives and boost the 
economy.
  I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. All time for debate on the bill has expired.


               Amendment No. 1 Offered by Mr. O'Halleran

  Mr. O'HALLERAN. Mr. Speaker, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       In the header of section 8, strike ``GAO Report'' and 
     insert ``GAO Report on the Commonwealth of the Northern 
     Mariana Islands''.
       Add at the end the following new section:

     SEC. ___. GAO REPORT ON WAGE INCREASE IMPACT.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 90 days before the date of 
     the third wage increase to first take effect after the date 
     of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General, in 
     consultation with the persons described in subsection (b), 
     shall prepare and submit to Congress a report, that--

[[Page H7124]]

       (1) identifies and analyzes the effects, in the aggregate, 
     of the first wage increases and second wage increases after 
     such date of enactment on business enterprises (including 
     small business enterprises) including the effects, with 
     respect to such enterprises, on--
       (A) the wages and compensation of employees;
       (B) the number of employees, disaggregated by full-time and 
     part-time employees;
       (C) the prices, sales, and revenues;
       (D) employee turnover and retention;
       (E) hiring and training costs; and
       (F) productivity and absenteeism;
       (2) to the extent practicable, identifies such effects in 
     isolation from other factors that may affect business 
     enterprises (including small business enterprises), 
     including--
       (A) broader economic conditions;
       (B) changes in Federal, State, and local law, policy, and 
     regulation;
       (C) industry consolidation;
       (D) natural disasters; and
       (E) significant demographic changes;
       (3) to the extent practicable, identifies and analyzes such 
     effects for the Nation as a whole, and, separately, for--
       (A) each census division, as designated by the Bureau of 
     the Census;
       (B) each metropolitan statistical area and nonmetropolitan 
     portion (as such terms are defined by the Office of 
     Management and Budget with respect to 2013); and
       (C) each urbanized area, urbanized cluster, and rural area, 
     as designated by the Bureau of the Census; and
       (4) describes the methodology used to generate the 
     information in the report.
       (b) Expert Consultation.--The persons described in this 
     subsection are--
       (1) labor economists with expertise in minimum wage and low 
     wage labor markets;
       (2) workers (including agricultural workers), and the labor 
     organizations and worker groups representing such workers;
       (3) representatives of businesses, including small 
     businesses, agricultural employers, and businesses in the 
     accommodation and food services sector;
       (4) State and local governments; and
       (5) the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
       (c) Congressional Assessment and Recommendations.--Not 
     later than 60 days after the date on which Congress receives 
     the report under subsection (a), Congress shall--
       (1) assess the findings of such report; and
       (2) make recommendations with respect to actions of 
     Congress to address the findings of such report, including 
     actions to delay the next scheduled wage increases.
       (d) Wage Increase Defined.--The term ``wage increase'' 
     means an increase in wages that takes effect under subsection 
     (a)(1) or (g)(1) of section 6, section 3(m)(2)(A)(i), or 
     section 14(c)(1)(A) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 
     (29 U.S.C. 201 et seq.), as amended by this Act.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 492, the 
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. O'Halleran) and a Member opposed each will 
control 5 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona.
  Mr. O'HALLERAN. This prudent, commonsense amendment is necessary to 
ensure that once this legislation is passed, it has the positive 
effects we intended. I strongly support the Raise the Wage Act, and I 
believe it will positively impact communities nationwide and lift 
families out of poverty.
  The State of Arizona and my constituents in the First District voted 
overwhelmingly to raise the minimum wage in 2016. It is currently $11 
an hour. During this implementation of this minimum wage increase, 
Arizona has seen a 4.3 percent growth in State GDP--the third fastest 
growing economy in the Nation. We have seen in Arizona that increasing 
the wage pays off for our economy and our families.
  My amendment will only strengthen the underlying bill. It requires 
independent, objective analysis of the economic and employment impacts 
of this legislation. It would require the Government Accountability 
Office to submit a report to Congress on the effects of the first two 
wage increases in the legislation.
  Specifically, the GAO must report on the effects on small businesses 
and on wages and compensation. The report also includes an analysis of 
the law's effects on urbanized and rural areas.
  Importantly, this amendment would require the GAO to consult various 
stakeholders and experts when developing its report. These would 
include small business owners, labor economists, agricultural workers, 
the food service industry, and State and local governments.
  It would allow constituents to provide their input on how their 
families, businesses, and communities have been affected.
  This thoughtful, data-driven approach will allow us to see the real 
impacts of this legislation.
  I believe as lawmakers we do the best job of responding to the needs 
of our constituents when we are best informed.
  I want to thank the cosponsors of the amendment and the Education and 
Labor Committee for working with us and the Rules Committee for making 
this amendment in order.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I claim the time in 
opposition to the amendment.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentlewoman is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as 
I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, a hot economy is leading to higher wages. There are 7.3 
million unfilled jobs which puts all workers in a good position to 
receive higher wages, and we have seen robust wage growth for nearly a 
year in all categories. Unfortunately, this amendment does nothing to 
prevent the negative impacts of H.R. 582.
  Calling this amendment a fig leaf is an insult to fig leaves.
  First, the amendment requires that GAO study only--only--the effects 
of the first two of the seven wage hikes in H.R. 582, rather than the 
actual effect of the bill which is increasing the minimum wage by 107 
percent to $15 an hour and indexing the wage rate forever after that.
  As my colleagues well know, the first two wage hikes in the bill will 
not be as damaging as the increase to $15. So the results of the 
proposed GAO study are rigged to avoid use the damaging 107 percent 
hike as the appropriate benchmark.
  Second, this amendment has no teeth. It merely says that Congress can 
make recommendations after the first two wage hikes have gone into 
effect. Give me a break. But there is no requirement that Congress do 
anything in response to these recommendations, and there is no fast-
track authority in this amendment.
  Third, we already have in our possession a recent detailed and highly 
credible study of the effects of a 107 percent wage hike to the current 
Federal minimum wage. With regard to GAO's studies, at the Education 
and Labor Committee markup of H.R. 582 in March, Chairman Scott already 
dismissed the effectiveness and conclusions of a potential GAO report 
that might show jobs lost.
  Explaining his opposition to a proposed GAO study, Mr. Scott said, 
This amendment suggests that there will be job loss. All of the studies 
show otherwise.
  I urge my colleagues to see this amendment for what it is: an attempt 
to provide political cover to Democrat Members who are justifiably 
concerned about the negative impact of a $15 Federal minimum wage in 
their districts.
  Vote ``no'' on this amendment and ``no'' on H.R. 582.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. O'HALLERAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Cox).
  Mr. COX of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of 
our amendment to the Raise the Wage Act. I joined this amendment to 
look out for the small businesses and the agricultural businesses that 
are so vital to the Central Valley of California and to our Nation.
  The minimum wage has not been raised since 2009. In the decade since, 
due to inflation and rising costs, the paychecks of millions of 
hardworking Americans naturally don't go as far as they used to.
  Every worker deserves a living wage, and this amendment ensures that 
we can give at least 17 million Americans a raise while also protecting 
farms and small businesses. We do this by requiring the Government 
Accountability Office to analyze and produce a study of the impact of 
the first two scheduled wage increases on our Nation's small 
businesses, our agriculture industry, and our workers.
  The study will consider the specific effects of raising the minimum 
wage in each Census tract and rural area, so families, like those I 
serve in the Central Valley of California, aren't left behind.
  If we find the negative impacts are too great, the relevant 
committees are required to make recommendations to Congress which may 
include actions

[[Page H7125]]

necessary to delay the next scheduled increases, if necessary.

  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.
  Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, as I said earlier, the 
chairman of the Education and Labor Committee already has a low opinion 
of these types of studies, and his mind is made up about a $15 Federal 
minimum wage.
  This amendment sets up a rigged process in which House Democrat 
leaders who already support a 107 percent hike will decide whether to 
move forward with it. There is no doubt how they will decide.
  Congressman Grijalva agrees with Chairman Scott. He is quoted in a 
July 15 article in The Hill regarding the amendment's proposed study: 
``It's almost perfunctory. Look what we did. So I don't think it's 
consequential. But I don't think it's needed, either.''
  Mr. Speaker, this amendment is not necessary. Let the Democrats vote 
for the $15 wage hike and take the consequences of it. Democrats should 
stop trying to provide political cover for themselves with this 
amendment which does absolutely nothing.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. O'HALLERAN. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire how much time is 
remaining.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Arizona has 1\1/2\ 
minutes remaining. The gentlewoman from North Carolina has 1\1/2\ 
minutes remaining.
  Mr. O'HALLERAN. Mr. Speaker, I want to point out that the discussion 
in committee and Chairman Scott's comments were not about this bill. 
They were about another bill.
  To identify that the Members of this Congress do not need data on 
which to make further decisions, I hope we don't get to that point in 
time in Congress.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, it is my understanding I am 
allowed to close, so I will reserve until the other side does so.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentlewoman is correct.

                              {time}  1100

  Mr. O'HALLERAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. 
Scott), committee chairman, for all the hard work he has done. And I 
want to look forward to a time in America that we can see a time when 
the working families of America can partake in the economy as others do 
today.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I will say again to our 
colleagues on the other side of the aisle, there is no group of people 
more than the Republicans on this side of the aisle who care about 
working families and who work every day for the philosophies that will 
support those working families and, again, all other groups.
  Let me say again, the amendment requires the GAO study only the 
effects of the first two of the seven wage hikes in H.R. 582 rather 
than the actual effect of this bill, which is increasing the minimum 
wage by 107 percent.
  As my colleagues well know, the first two wage hikes will not be as 
damaging as the increase to $15, so the results of the proposed GAO 
study are rigged to avoid using the damaging 107 percent hike as the 
appropriate benchmark.
  Second, this amendment has no teeth. It merely says that Congress can 
make recommendations after the first two wage hikes have gone into 
effect, but there is no requirement that Congress do anything in 
response, and there is no fast-track authority in this amendment.
  Again, I will say that this amendment is not necessary.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to see this amendment for what it 
is: an attempt to provide political cover to Democrat Members who are 
justifiably concerned about the negative impacts of a $15 Federal 
minimum wage in their district.
  Vote ``no'' on this amendment and ``no'' on H.R. 582.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the previous question 
is ordered on the bill and on the amendment offered by the gentleman 
from Arizona (Mr. O'Halleran).
  The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from 
Arizona (Mr. O'Halleran).
  The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that 
the ayes appeared to have it.


                             Recorded Vote

  Mr. O'HALLERAN. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.
  A recorded vote was ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 9 of rule XX, this 15-
minute vote on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. 
O'Halleran) will be followed by 5-minute votes on:
  A motion to recommit, if offered; and
  Passage of the bill, if ordered; and
  Agreeing to the Speaker's approval of the Journal, if ordered.
  The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 248, 
noes 181, not voting 3, as follows:

                             [Roll No. 494]

                               AYES--248

     Adams
     Aguilar
     Allred
     Axne
     Barragan
     Bass
     Beatty
     Bera
     Beyer
     Bishop (GA)
     Blumenauer
     Blunt Rochester
     Bonamici
     Bost
     Boyle, Brendan F.
     Brindisi
     Brown (MD)
     Brownley (CA)
     Bustos
     Butterfield
     Carbajal
     Cardenas
     Carson (IN)
     Cartwright
     Case
     Casten (IL)
     Castor (FL)
     Castro (TX)
     Chu, Judy
     Cicilline
     Cisneros
     Clark (MA)
     Clarke (NY)
     Clay
     Cleaver
     Clyburn
     Cohen
     Connolly
     Cooper
     Correa
     Costa
     Courtney
     Cox (CA)
     Craig
     Crist
     Crow
     Cuellar
     Cummings
     Cunningham
     Davids (KS)
     Davis (CA)
     Davis, Danny K.
     Davis, Rodney
     Dean
     DeFazio
     DeGette
     DeLauro
     DelBene
     Delgado
     Demings
     DeSaulnier
     Deutch
     Diaz-Balart
     Dingell
     Doggett
     Doyle, Michael F.
     Engel
     Escobar
     Eshoo
     Espaillat
     Evans
     Finkenauer
     Fitzpatrick
     Fletcher
     Foster
     Frankel
     Fudge
     Gallego
     Garamendi
     Garcia (IL)
     Garcia (TX)
     Golden
     Gomez
     Gonzalez (TX)
     Gottheimer
     Green, Al (TX)
     Grijalva
     Grothman
     Haaland
     Harder (CA)
     Hartzler
     Hastings
     Hayes
     Heck
     Herrera Beutler
     Higgins (NY)
     Hill (CA)
     Himes
     Horn, Kendra S.
     Horsford
     Houlahan
     Hoyer
     Huffman
     Jackson Lee
     Jayapal
     Jeffries
     Johnson (GA)
     Johnson (TX)
     Kaptur
     Katko
     Keating
     Kelly (IL)
     Kennedy
     Khanna
     Kildee
     Kilmer
     Kim
     Kind
     King (NY)
     Kinzinger
     Kirkpatrick
     Krishnamoorthi
     Kuster (NH)
     Lamb
     Langevin
     Larsen (WA)
     Larson (CT)
     Lawrence
     Lawson (FL)
     Lee (CA)
     Lee (NV)
     Levin (CA)
     Levin (MI)
     Lewis
     Lieu, Ted
     Lipinski
     Loebsack
     Lofgren
     Lowenthal
     Lowey
     Lujan
     Luria
     Lynch
     Malinowski
     Maloney, Carolyn B.
     Maloney, Sean
     Matsui
     McAdams
     McBath
     McCollum
     McEachin
     McGovern
     McNerney
     Meeks
     Meng
     Moore
     Morelle
     Moulton
     Mucarsel-Powell
     Murphy
     Nadler
     Napolitano
     Neal
     Neguse
     Norcross
     O'Halleran
     Ocasio-Cortez
     Omar
     Pallone
     Panetta
     Pappas
     Pascrell
     Payne
     Perlmutter
     Peters
     Peterson
     Phillips
     Pingree
     Pocan
     Porter
     Pressley
     Price (NC)
     Quigley
     Raskin
     Rice (NY)
     Richmond
     Rooney (FL)
     Rose (NY)
     Rouda
     Roybal-Allard
     Ruiz
     Ruppersberger
     Rush
     Ryan
     Sanchez
     Sarbanes
     Scanlon
     Schakowsky
     Schiff
     Schneider
     Schrader
     Schrier
     Scott (VA)
     Scott, David
     Serrano
     Sewell (AL)
     Shalala
     Sherman
     Sherrill
     Sires
     Slotkin
     Smith (NJ)
     Smith (WA)
     Soto
     Spanberger
     Speier
     Stanton
     Stefanik
     Steil
     Stevens
     Suozzi
     Swalwell (CA)
     Takano
     Thompson (CA)
     Thompson (MS)
     Titus
     Tlaib
     Tonko
     Torres (CA)
     Torres Small (NM)
     Trahan
     Trone
     Underwood
     Upton
     Van Drew
     Vargas
     Veasey
     Vela
     Velazquez
     Visclosky
     Wasserman Schultz
     Waters
     Watson Coleman
     Welch
     Wexton
     Wild
     Wilson (FL)
     Yarmuth

                               NOES--181

     Aderholt
     Allen
     Amash
     Amodei
     Armstrong
     Arrington
     Babin
     Bacon
     Baird
     Balderson
     Banks
     Barr
     Bergman
     Biggs
     Bilirakis
     Bishop (UT)
     Brady
     Brooks (AL)
     Brooks (IN)
     Buchanan
     Buck
     Bucshon
     Budd
     Burchett
     Burgess
     Byrne
     Calvert
     Carter (GA)
     Carter (TX)
     Chabot
     Cheney
     Cline
     Cloud
     Cole
     Collins (GA)
     Collins (NY)
     Comer
     Conaway
     Cook
     Crawford
     Crenshaw
     Curtis
     Davidson (OH)
     DesJarlais
     Duffy
     Duncan
     Dunn
     Emmer
     Estes
     Ferguson
     Fleischmann
     Flores
     Foxx (NC)
     Fulcher
     Gaetz
     Gallagher
     Gianforte
     Gibbs
     Gohmert
     Gonzalez (OH)
     Gooden
     Gosar
     Granger
     Graves (GA)
     Graves (LA)
     Graves (MO)
     Green (TN)
     Griffith
     Guest
     Guthrie
     Hagedorn
     Harris
     Hern, Kevin
     Hice (GA)
     Higgins (LA)
     Hill (AR)
     Holding
     Hollingsworth
     Hudson
     Huizenga
     Hunter
     Hurd (TX)
     Johnson (LA)
     Johnson (OH)
     Johnson (SD)
     Jordan
     Joyce (OH)

[[Page H7126]]


     Joyce (PA)
     Keller
     Kelly (MS)
     Kelly (PA)
     King (IA)
     Kustoff (TN)
     LaHood
     LaMalfa
     Lamborn
     Latta
     Lesko
     Long
     Loudermilk
     Lucas
     Luetkemeyer
     Marchant
     Marshall
     Massie
     Mast
     McCarthy
     McCaul
     McClintock
     McHenry
     McKinley
     Meadows
     Meuser
     Miller
     Mitchell
     Moolenaar
     Mooney (WV)
     Mullin
     Newhouse
     Norman
     Nunes
     Olson
     Palazzo
     Palmer
     Pence
     Perry
     Posey
     Ratcliffe
     Reed
     Reschenthaler
     Rice (SC)
     Riggleman
     Roby
     Rodgers (WA)
     Roe, David P.
     Rogers (AL)
     Rogers (KY)
     Rose, John W.
     Rouzer
     Roy
     Rutherford
     Scalise
     Schweikert
     Scott, Austin
     Sensenbrenner
     Shimkus
     Simpson
     Smith (MO)
     Smith (NE)
     Smucker
     Spano
     Stauber
     Steube
     Stewart
     Stivers
     Taylor
     Thompson (PA)
     Thornberry
     Timmons
     Tipton
     Turner
     Wagner
     Walberg
     Walden
     Walker
     Walorski
     Waltz
     Watkins
     Weber (TX)
     Webster (FL)
     Wenstrup
     Westerman
     Williams
     Wilson (SC)
     Wittman
     Womack
     Woodall
     Wright
     Yoho
     Young
     Zeldin

                             NOT VOTING--3

     Abraham
     Fortenberry
     Gabbard

                              {time}  1132

  Mrs. HARTZLER, Messrs. ROSE of New York and GROTHMAN changed their 
vote from ``no'' to ``aye.''
  So the amendment was agreed to.
  The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Neguse). The question is on the 
engrossment and third reading of the bill.
  The bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, and was 
read the third time.


                           Motion to Recommit

  Mr. MEUSER. Mr. Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is the gentleman opposed to the bill?
  Mr. MEUSER. I am, in its current form.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will report the motion to 
recommit.
  The Clerk read as follows:
       Mr. Meuser moves to recommit the bill H.R. 582 to the 
     Committee on Education and Labor with instructions to report 
     the same back to the House forthwith, with the following 
     amendment:
       Add at the end the following:

     SEC. __. SMALL BUSINESS SURVIVAL.

        The amendments made by this Act shall not apply with 
     respect to an enterprise (as defined in section 3 of the Fair 
     Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 203)) that--
       (1) employs fewer than 10 individuals; or
       (2) whose annual gross volume of sales made or business 
     done is less than $1,000,000.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania is recognized for 5 minutes in support of his motion.
  Mr. MEUSER. Mr. Speaker, this motion will not delay passage of this 
bill or return it to committee. It is our last opportunity as a House 
to amend this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I am here to offer a motion to recommit that is about 
small business survival. It is about protecting the 8 million minority-
owned small businesses, the 9.9 million women-owned small businesses, 
and the 2.5 million veteran-owned small businesses around the country 
from the devastating repercussions of H.R. 582.
  With this motion to recommit, employers with fewer than 10 employees 
or annual sales under $1 million will not be forced to implement a $15-
per-hour minimum wage.
  If this amendment is adopted, mom-and-pop shops across the country 
will be protected from this bill's extreme and unnecessary one-size-
fits-all Washington mandate.
  Small businesses employ almost half of all U.S. employees and account 
for two-thirds of net new jobs. 99.9 percent of U.S. businesses are 
small.
  We know small businesses and their employees are the most vulnerable 
to this radical and unprecedented increase in the Federal minimum wage. 
The National Federation of Independent Business estimates that 
businesses with fewer than 500 employees will account for 57 percent of 
jobs lost due to this bill, and businesses with fewer than 100 
employees will account for 43 percent of jobs lost.
  Yet my Democrat colleagues have done nothing to protect these job 
creators from a 107 percent minimum wage hike. Instead, this 
legislation treats big and small businesses exactly same.
  Without the financial resilience needed to absorb the increase in 
bottom-line costs that this legislation will bring about, small 
businesses and towns in every congressional district will be forced to 
make very tough choices: Do they lay off workers? Raise prices on their 
customers? Replace workers with robotics? Or shut their doors 
completely?
  Congress should not force our Nation's smallest and most vital job 
creators to make those kinds of decisions.
  Small business workers and their families will also take a 
significant hit. The nonpartisan CBO backs up this reality, reporting 
that mandating a $15 minimum wage would ``reduce business income and 
raise prices as higher labor costs would be absorbed by business owners 
and then passed on to consumers.''
  From coast to coast, we have already seen real-world examples of how 
workers and employers would be punished by this socialist policy. One 
study found that Washington-knows-best mandates that stretch across our 
Nation--or better known as socialist policies--we have real-world 
examples showing that they simply do not work.
  There was a very thorough study by Washington State University which 
showed, in Seattle, a $15 minimum wage law reduced total income paid to 
the city's low-wage workers by $120 million per year in that one city 
alone.
  The cost of living in Seattle, Los Angeles, and New York City, where 
a $15 minimum wage is already in place, or soon to be, is much higher 
than my district in Pennsylvania. With such disparities in the cost of 
living across the country, imagine what a wage hike will do to rural 
areas, rural workers represented by many of us in Congress.
  Mr. Speaker, despite today's booming economy and rising wages, 
supporters of H.R. 582 think it is best to force a punishing, 
Washington one-size-fits-all wage hike on small businesses across 
America.
  A small business owner in the State of Washington actually said it 
best:

       Congress should not and cannot mandate its way to wage 
     growth and prosperity, because those mandates hit small 
     business hardest.

  Mr. Speaker, even the liberal Washington Post said yesterday: ``There 
is a trade-off in raising the minimum wage so substantially.''
  The Washington Post went on to say: ``Those who would lose out, in 
the form of no job at all, would wind up not with less pay but with no 
pay.''
  I urge all my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this 
modest but important amendment to H.R. 582. The small businesses and 
their workers back home in each and every one of our districts will 
thank us for protecting their livelihood.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. MURPHY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the motion to 
recommit.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentlewoman from Florida is recognized 
for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. MURPHY. Mr. Speaker, there has been an awful lot of talk 
recently about what it means to be a patriotic American, and the fact 
is the answer for each of us is deeply personal.

  I wasn't blessed to be born an American citizen. I was born in 
Vietnam, where my parents faced persecution by a communist government, 
in part, for their wartime affiliation with the U.S. military.
  When I was a baby, we fled Vietnam by boat, running out of fuel in 
the South China Sea when a U.S. Navy ship came to our rescue, helping 
us reach a Malaysian refugee camp. A Lutheran church then sponsored our 
passage to America, where we became proud citizens.
  Although we were eternally grateful to be here, life wasn't always 
easy. My mom worked as a seamstress and my dad at a power plant, and 
together, they cleaned office buildings at night, often bringing my 
brother and me along.
  My parents didn't speak English well or have a community of close 
friends, but what they did have, like so many immigrants, was a strong 
work ethic.
  My dad also had a labor union in his corner, and the union spoke for 
him and they fought for him.
  My parents worked hard to make ends meet so that their children would 
have opportunities they themselves never had. And that is the American 
Dream, which brings me back to the question of what it means to be a 
patriot.

[[Page H7127]]

  For me, it starts with gratitude for this country and an appreciation 
for its exceptional qualities.
  This country saved my family's life. It gave us refuge and 
opportunity, as it has done for so many across generations.
  But I think patriotism goes beyond love of country. It is also about 
striving to make this country even stronger. It is about trying to make 
life a little bit easier for Americans who work hard and play by the 
rules, folks like my parents and like so many of my constituents.
  I support this bill for a simple reason: In the greatest country on 
Earth, nobody with the dignity of a full-time job should suffer the 
indignity of not being able to provide for themselves or their loved 
ones.
  For a decade, the minimum wage has been stuck at $7.25 an hour, while 
the cost of living has skyrocketed, and there is no part in this great 
country where $7.25 is a living wage anymore.
  It is past time we gave hardworking American families a raise. They 
have earned it.
  This bill gradually increases the minimum wage in seven steps, 
reaching $15 by 2025 at the earliest. This is a reasonable bill, not a 
radical one.
  CBO estimates this bill will raise wages for nearly 30 million 
workers and lift millions out of poverty. They will have more money to 
spend in the local economy because workers are consumers, too, and they 
will be less reliant on government programs. And given that our deficit 
will exceed a trillion dollars this year, that should be music to my 
Republican colleagues' ears.
  I oppose this MTR because every American who works hard deserves a 
fair shot at the American Dream. Whether you live in Pennsylvania or 
Arizona or Minnesota or Florida, you deserve a raise. And whether you 
work for a large corporation or a small business, you deserve a raise; 
you deserve a living wage; and you certainly deserve $15 an hour.
  Public polling shows strong bipartisan support for increasing the 
minimum wage.
  Make no mistake: This MTR is simply a Republican attempt to defeat 
this bill because they oppose any increase to the Federal minimum wage. 
Some oppose the concept of a minimum wage at all. Well, the American 
people disagree, and as Democrats, we stand with the American people.
  The contrast is clear: Our Republican colleagues made working 
families pay for tax cuts for the wealthiest individuals and 
corporations. Yes, they did. And now they are opposing our efforts to 
give those working families a raise. That is not just bad policy; that 
is shameful.
  When I vote ``yes'' on final passage, I will be thinking about my 
parents and my hardworking constituents; and thank God families like 
these have labor unions fighting for them in the workplace and in the 
Halls of Congress. This will be one of the proudest votes I cast.
  I urge my colleagues to oppose the MTR. Let's pass this bill. Let's 
continue this fight in the Senate and in State capitals across this 
country.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the previous question is 
ordered on the motion to recommit.
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion to recommit.
  The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that 
the noes appeared to have it.


                             Recorded Vote

  Mr. MEUSER. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.
  A recorded vote was ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. This is a 5-minute vote.
  The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 210, 
noes 218, not voting 4, as follows:

                             [Roll No. 495]

                               AYES--210

     Aderholt
     Allen
     Amash
     Amodei
     Armstrong
     Arrington
     Babin
     Bacon
     Baird
     Balderson
     Banks
     Barr
     Bergman
     Biggs
     Bilirakis
     Bishop (UT)
     Bost
     Brady
     Brindisi
     Brooks (AL)
     Brooks (IN)
     Buchanan
     Buck
     Bucshon
     Budd
     Burchett
     Burgess
     Byrne
     Calvert
     Carter (GA)
     Carter (TX)
     Chabot
     Cheney
     Cline
     Cloud
     Cole
     Collins (GA)
     Collins (NY)
     Comer
     Conaway
     Cook
     Crawford
     Crenshaw
     Cuellar
     Cunningham
     Curtis
     Davids (KS)
     Davidson (OH)
     Davis, Rodney
     DesJarlais
     Diaz-Balart
     Duffy
     Duncan
     Dunn
     Emmer
     Estes
     Ferguson
     Fitzpatrick
     Fleischmann
     Flores
     Foxx (NC)
     Fulcher
     Gaetz
     Gallagher
     Gianforte
     Gibbs
     Gohmert
     Gonzalez (OH)
     Gooden
     Gosar
     Gottheimer
     Granger
     Graves (GA)
     Graves (LA)
     Graves (MO)
     Green (TN)
     Griffith
     Grothman
     Guest
     Guthrie
     Hagedorn
     Harris
     Hartzler
     Hastings
     Hern, Kevin
     Herrera Beutler
     Hice (GA)
     Higgins (LA)
     Hill (AR)
     Holding
     Hollingsworth
     Horn, Kendra S.
     Hudson
     Huizenga
     Hunter
     Hurd (TX)
     Johnson (LA)
     Johnson (OH)
     Johnson (SD)
     Jordan
     Joyce (OH)
     Joyce (PA)
     Katko
     Keller
     Kelly (MS)
     Kelly (PA)
     King (IA)
     King (NY)
     Kinzinger
     Kustoff (TN)
     LaHood
     LaMalfa
     Lamborn
     Latta
     Lesko
     Long
     Loudermilk
     Lucas
     Luetkemeyer
     Marchant
     Marshall
     Massie
     Mast
     McAdams
     McCarthy
     McCaul
     McClintock
     McHenry
     McKinley
     Meadows
     Meuser
     Miller
     Mitchell
     Moolenaar
     Mooney (WV)
     Mullin
     Newhouse
     Norman
     Nunes
     Olson
     Palazzo
     Palmer
     Pence
     Perry
     Peterson
     Posey
     Ratcliffe
     Reed
     Reschenthaler
     Rice (SC)
     Riggleman
     Roby
     Rodgers (WA)
     Roe, David P.
     Rogers (AL)
     Rogers (KY)
     Rooney (FL)
     Rose, John W.
     Rouzer
     Roy
     Rutherford
     Scalise
     Schrader
     Schweikert
     Scott, Austin
     Sensenbrenner
     Shimkus
     Simpson
     Slotkin
     Smith (MO)
     Smith (NE)
     Smith (NJ)
     Smucker
     Spanberger
     Spano
     Stauber
     Stefanik
     Steil
     Steube
     Stewart
     Stivers
     Taylor
     Thompson (PA)
     Thornberry
     Timmons
     Tipton
     Turner
     Upton
     Van Drew
     Wagner
     Walberg
     Walden
     Walker
     Walorski
     Waltz
     Watkins
     Weber (TX)
     Webster (FL)
     Wenstrup
     Westerman
     Wild
     Williams
     Wilson (SC)
     Wittman
     Womack
     Woodall
     Wright
     Yoho
     Young
     Zeldin

                               NOES--218

     Adams
     Aguilar
     Allred
     Axne
     Barragan
     Bass
     Beatty
     Bera
     Beyer
     Bishop (GA)
     Blumenauer
     Blunt Rochester
     Bonamici
     Boyle, Brendan F.
     Brown (MD)
     Brownley (CA)
     Bustos
     Butterfield
     Carbajal
     Cardenas
     Carson (IN)
     Cartwright
     Case
     Casten (IL)
     Castor (FL)
     Castro (TX)
     Chu, Judy
     Cicilline
     Cisneros
     Clark (MA)
     Clarke (NY)
     Clay
     Cleaver
     Clyburn
     Cohen
     Connolly
     Cooper
     Correa
     Costa
     Courtney
     Cox (CA)
     Craig
     Crist
     Crow
     Cummings
     Davis (CA)
     Davis, Danny K.
     Dean
     DeFazio
     DeGette
     DeLauro
     DelBene
     Delgado
     Demings
     DeSaulnier
     Deutch
     Dingell
     Doggett
     Doyle, Michael F.
     Engel
     Escobar
     Eshoo
     Espaillat
     Evans
     Finkenauer
     Fletcher
     Foster
     Frankel
     Fudge
     Gallego
     Garamendi
     Garcia (IL)
     Garcia (TX)
     Golden
     Gomez
     Gonzalez (TX)
     Grijalva
     Haaland
     Harder (CA)
     Hayes
     Heck
     Higgins (NY)
     Hill (CA)
     Himes
     Horsford
     Houlahan
     Hoyer
     Huffman
     Jackson Lee
     Jayapal
     Jeffries
     Johnson (GA)
     Johnson (TX)
     Kaptur
     Keating
     Kelly (IL)
     Kennedy
     Khanna
     Kildee
     Kilmer
     Kim
     Kind
     Kirkpatrick
     Krishnamoorthi
     Kuster (NH)
     Lamb
     Langevin
     Larsen (WA)
     Larson (CT)
     Lawrence
     Lawson (FL)
     Lee (CA)
     Lee (NV)
     Levin (CA)
     Levin (MI)
     Lewis
     Lieu, Ted
     Lipinski
     Loebsack
     Lofgren
     Lowenthal
     Lowey
     Lujan
     Luria
     Lynch
     Malinowski
     Maloney, Carolyn B.
     Maloney, Sean
     Matsui
     McBath
     McCollum
     McEachin
     McGovern
     McNerney
     Meeks
     Meng
     Moore
     Morelle
     Moulton
     Mucarsel-Powell
     Murphy
     Nadler
     Napolitano
     Neal
     Neguse
     Norcross
     O'Halleran
     Ocasio-Cortez
     Omar
     Pallone
     Panetta
     Pappas
     Pascrell
     Payne
     Perlmutter
     Peters
     Phillips
     Pingree
     Pocan
     Porter
     Pressley
     Price (NC)
     Quigley
     Raskin
     Rice (NY)
     Richmond
     Rose (NY)
     Rouda
     Roybal-Allard
     Ruiz
     Ruppersberger
     Rush
     Ryan
     Sanchez
     Sarbanes
     Scanlon
     Schakowsky
     Schiff
     Schneider
     Schrier
     Scott (VA)
     Scott, David
     Serrano
     Sewell (AL)
     Shalala
     Sherman
     Sherrill
     Sires
     Smith (WA)
     Soto
     Speier
     Stanton
     Stevens
     Suozzi
     Swalwell (CA)
     Takano
     Thompson (CA)
     Thompson (MS)
     Titus
     Tlaib
     Tonko
     Torres (CA)
     Torres Small (NM)
     Trahan
     Trone
     Underwood
     Vargas
     Veasey
     Vela
     Velazquez
     Visclosky
     Wasserman Schultz
     Waters
     Watson Coleman
     Welch
     Wexton
     Wilson (FL)
     Yarmuth

                             NOT VOTING--4

     Abraham
     Fortenberry
     Gabbard
     Green, Al (TX)

                              {time}  1154

  Mr. BILIRAKIS changed his vote from ``no'' to ``aye.''
  So the motion to recommit was rejected.
  The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
  Stated against:

[[Page H7128]]

  

  Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have 
voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 495.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the passage of the bill.
  The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that 
the ayes appeared to have it.


                             Recorded Vote

  Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.
  A recorded vote was ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. This is a 5-minute vote.
  The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 231, 
noes 199, not voting 3, as follows:

                             [Roll No. 496]

                               AYES--231

     Adams
     Aguilar
     Allred
     Axne
     Barragan
     Bass
     Beatty
     Bera
     Beyer
     Bishop (GA)
     Blumenauer
     Blunt Rochester
     Bonamici
     Boyle, Brendan F.
     Brown (MD)
     Brownley (CA)
     Bustos
     Butterfield
     Carbajal
     Cardenas
     Carson (IN)
     Cartwright
     Case
     Casten (IL)
     Castor (FL)
     Castro (TX)
     Chu, Judy
     Cicilline
     Cisneros
     Clark (MA)
     Clarke (NY)
     Clay
     Cleaver
     Clyburn
     Cohen
     Connolly
     Cooper
     Correa
     Costa
     Courtney
     Cox (CA)
     Craig
     Crist
     Crow
     Cuellar
     Cummings
     Davids (KS)
     Davis (CA)
     Davis, Danny K.
     Dean
     DeFazio
     DeGette
     DeLauro
     DelBene
     Delgado
     Demings
     DeSaulnier
     Deutch
     Dingell
     Doggett
     Doyle, Michael F.
     Engel
     Escobar
     Eshoo
     Espaillat
     Evans
     Finkenauer
     Fitzpatrick
     Fletcher
     Foster
     Frankel
     Fudge
     Gallego
     Garamendi
     Garcia (IL)
     Garcia (TX)
     Golden
     Gomez
     Gonzalez (TX)
     Gottheimer
     Green, Al (TX)
     Grijalva
     Haaland
     Harder (CA)
     Hastings
     Hayes
     Heck
     Higgins (NY)
     Hill (CA)
     Himes
     Horsford
     Houlahan
     Hoyer
     Huffman
     Jackson Lee
     Jayapal
     Jeffries
     Johnson (GA)
     Johnson (TX)
     Kaptur
     Keating
     Kelly (IL)
     Kennedy
     Khanna
     Kildee
     Kilmer
     Kim
     Kind
     Kirkpatrick
     Krishnamoorthi
     Kuster (NH)
     Lamb
     Langevin
     Larsen (WA)
     Larson (CT)
     Lawrence
     Lawson (FL)
     Lee (CA)
     Lee (NV)
     Levin (CA)
     Levin (MI)
     Lewis
     Lieu, Ted
     Lipinski
     Loebsack
     Lofgren
     Lowenthal
     Lowey
     Lujan
     Luria
     Lynch
     Malinowski
     Maloney, Carolyn B.
     Maloney, Sean
     Matsui
     McBath
     McCollum
     McEachin
     McGovern
     McNerney
     Meeks
     Meng
     Moore
     Morelle
     Moulton
     Mucarsel-Powell
     Murphy
     Nadler
     Napolitano
     Neal
     Neguse
     Norcross
     O'Halleran
     Ocasio-Cortez
     Omar
     Pallone
     Panetta
     Pappas
     Pascrell
     Payne
     Pelosi
     Perlmutter
     Peters
     Peterson
     Phillips
     Pingree
     Pocan
     Porter
     Pressley
     Price (NC)
     Quigley
     Raskin
     Rice (NY)
     Richmond
     Rooney (FL)
     Rose (NY)
     Rouda
     Roybal-Allard
     Ruiz
     Ruppersberger
     Rush
     Ryan
     Sanchez
     Sarbanes
     Scanlon
     Schakowsky
     Schiff
     Schneider
     Schrier
     Scott (VA)
     Scott, David
     Serrano
     Sewell (AL)
     Shalala
     Sherman
     Sherrill
     Sires
     Slotkin
     Smith (NJ)
     Smith (WA)
     Soto
     Spanberger
     Speier
     Stanton
     Stevens
     Suozzi
     Swalwell (CA)
     Takano
     Thompson (CA)
     Thompson (MS)
     Titus
     Tlaib
     Tonko
     Torres (CA)
     Trahan
     Trone
     Underwood
     Van Drew
     Vargas
     Veasey
     Vela
     Velazquez
     Visclosky
     Wasserman Schultz
     Waters
     Watson Coleman
     Welch
     Wexton
     Wild
     Wilson (FL)
     Yarmuth

                               NOES--199

     Aderholt
     Allen
     Amash
     Amodei
     Armstrong
     Arrington
     Babin
     Bacon
     Baird
     Balderson
     Banks
     Barr
     Bergman
     Biggs
     Bilirakis
     Bishop (UT)
     Bost
     Brady
     Brindisi
     Brooks (AL)
     Brooks (IN)
     Buchanan
     Buck
     Bucshon
     Budd
     Burchett
     Burgess
     Byrne
     Calvert
     Carter (GA)
     Carter (TX)
     Chabot
     Cheney
     Cline
     Cloud
     Cole
     Collins (GA)
     Collins (NY)
     Comer
     Conaway
     Cook
     Crawford
     Crenshaw
     Cunningham
     Curtis
     Davidson (OH)
     Davis, Rodney
     DesJarlais
     Diaz-Balart
     Duffy
     Duncan
     Dunn
     Emmer
     Estes
     Ferguson
     Fleischmann
     Flores
     Foxx (NC)
     Fulcher
     Gaetz
     Gallagher
     Gianforte
     Gibbs
     Gohmert
     Gonzalez (OH)
     Gooden
     Gosar
     Granger
     Graves (GA)
     Graves (LA)
     Graves (MO)
     Green (TN)
     Griffith
     Grothman
     Guest
     Guthrie
     Hagedorn
     Harris
     Hartzler
     Hern, Kevin
     Herrera Beutler
     Hice (GA)
     Higgins (LA)
     Hill (AR)
     Holding
     Hollingsworth
     Horn, Kendra S.
     Hudson
     Huizenga
     Hunter
     Hurd (TX)
     Johnson (LA)
     Johnson (OH)
     Johnson (SD)
     Jordan
     Joyce (OH)
     Joyce (PA)
     Katko
     Keller
     Kelly (MS)
     Kelly (PA)
     King (IA)
     King (NY)
     Kinzinger
     Kustoff (TN)
     LaHood
     LaMalfa
     Lamborn
     Latta
     Lesko
     Long
     Loudermilk
     Lucas
     Luetkemeyer
     Marchant
     Marshall
     Massie
     Mast
     McAdams
     McCarthy
     McCaul
     McClintock
     McHenry
     McKinley
     Meadows
     Meuser
     Miller
     Mitchell
     Moolenaar
     Mooney (WV)
     Mullin
     Newhouse
     Norman
     Nunes
     Olson
     Palazzo
     Palmer
     Pence
     Perry
     Posey
     Ratcliffe
     Reed
     Reschenthaler
     Rice (SC)
     Riggleman
     Roby
     Rodgers (WA)
     Roe, David P.
     Rogers (AL)
     Rogers (KY)
     Rose, John W.
     Rouzer
     Roy
     Rutherford
     Scalise
     Schrader
     Schweikert
     Scott, Austin
     Sensenbrenner
     Shimkus
     Simpson
     Smith (MO)
     Smith (NE)
     Smucker
     Spano
     Stauber
     Stefanik
     Steil
     Steube
     Stewart
     Stivers
     Taylor
     Thompson (PA)
     Thornberry
     Timmons
     Tipton
     Torres Small (NM)
     Turner
     Upton
     Wagner
     Walberg
     Walden
     Walker
     Walorski
     Waltz
     Watkins
     Weber (TX)
     Webster (FL)
     Wenstrup
     Westerman
     Williams
     Wilson (SC)
     Wittman
     Womack
     Woodall
     Wright
     Yoho
     Young
     Zeldin

                             NOT VOTING--3

     Abraham
     Fortenberry
     Gabbard


                Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (during the vote). The Chair will remind all 
persons in the gallery that they are here as guests of the House and 
that any manifestation of approval or disapproval of proceedings is in 
violation of the rules of the House.

                              {time}  1201

  So the bill was passed.
  The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________