[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 125 (Wednesday, July 24, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E981]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           RAISE THE WAGE ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                     HON. ROBERT C. ``BOBBY'' SCOTT

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 18, 2019

  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the 
following letter in support of H.R. 582, the Raise the Wage Act.

                                                        Oxfam,

                                                    July 16, 2019.
     Members of the U.S. House of Representatives.
     Ms. Eunice Ikene,
     Labor Policy Advisor at House Committee on Education and the 
         Workforce.
       Dear Ms. Ikene and Members of Congress: On behalf of Oxfam 
     America, I urge you to vote for the Raise the Wage Act (H.R. 
     582) and vote against any amendments that would weaken the 
     bill.
       Oxfam America is an international development and relief 
     agency committed to working for lasting solutions to poverty, 
     hunger and social injustice in over 90 countries, including 
     the United States. Oxfam has carried out development and 
     humanitarian programs across the globe.
       Within the United States, we have focused our efforts to 
     elevating the rights and life opportunities for historically 
     disadvantaged workers in low-wage sectors. With a federal 
     minimum wage of $7.25 an hour, a full-time worker may only 
     make $15,080 a year, a salary that is almost $4,000 below the 
     poverty line for a family of three.
       The Raise the Wage Act of 2019 would benefit over a quarter 
     of the workforce: nearly 40 million workers and their 
     families. The act would raise the federal minimum wage to 
     $8.55 this year and increase it over the next five years 
     until it reaches $15 in 2024, then adjust it each year to 
     keep pace with the typical worker's wages.
       Here are six reasons why raising the wage makes sense.
        1. It is long overdue.
       In the decade since it was last raised, the minimum wage 
     has failed to keep up with inflation, failed to keep up with 
     average wages, and--most dramatically--failed to keep up with 
     incomes of the top 1 percent and CEOs, contributing to 
     America's growing inequality.
       Low-wage workers are not benefiting from economic growth 
     and productivity. If the minimum wage had kept pace with 
     productivity increases, it would be around $20.
       Just 30 years ago, the average pay gap between CEOs and 
     workers was 59 to 1; last year, it soared to 361 to 1. The 
     average CEO makes $13,940,000, while a minimum wage worker 
     makes $15,080: a gap of 924 to 1.
        2. It would address longstanding racial and gender 
     inequities.
       Historically marginalized people do more than their fair 
     share of low-wage work, and would stand to benefit 
     disproportionately from the bump.
       While 27 percent of the total workforce would benefit from 
     the raise:
       39 percent of Black and Latina women would benefit (vs. 18 
     percent of white men),
       38 percent of African American workers would benefit,
       33 percent of Latino workers would benefit,
       32 percent of women workers would benefit (vs 22 percent of 
     men).
        3. It would reduce poverty.
       The bump from $290 a week to $600 a week would lift 
     millions of family out of poverty. Two-thirds of all working 
     people in poverty (67.3 percent) would see a raise in wages.
        4. It would fuel economic growth.
       The roughly $120 billion extra paid to workers would be 
     pumped back into the economy for necessities such as rent, 
     food, clothes.
       Economists have long recognized that boosting purchasing 
     power by putting money in people's pockets for consumer 
     spending has positive ripple effects on the entire economy.
       In one recent poll, 67 percent of small business owners 
     support the minimum wage increase to $15 an hour. They say it 
     would spark consumer demand, which would enable them to 
     retain or hire new employees.
       And raising the wage doesn't seem to compel employers to 
     cut jobs. As states and cities across the country have raised 
     wages, research has found no statistically significant effect 
     on employment.
        5. It would save taxpayers money and reduce use of 
     government programs.
       When employers don't pay people enough to survive, those 
     workers are compelled to seek government assistance, meaning 
     taxpayers are essentially subsidizing the corporations.
       In 2016, EPI found that, among recipients of public 
     assistance, most work or have a family member who works; and 
     they are concentrated at the bottom of the pay scale. Raising 
     wages for low-wage workers would ``unambiguously reduce net 
     spending on public assistance, particularly among workers 
     likely to be affected by a federal minimum-wage increase.''
        6. It's what the vast majority of Americans want.
       Vast majorities (up to three quarters, including a majority 
     across party lines) support raising the wage. Even in a poll 
     sponsored by the National Restaurant Association (which has 
     worked to block state minimum wage increases and preempt 
     local sick day laws), 71 percent of Americans indicated 
     support for raising the wage, ``even if it also increases the 
     cost of food and service to customers.''
       In fact, over half the states have raised their minimum 
     wages to restore basic fairness to the workforce.


                               conclusion

       Raising the minimum wage offers benefits to workers, 
     children, taxpayers, and the economy as a whole. It increases 
     buying power and reduces the daily struggle for people to pay 
     their basic expenses. It enables people to save for and 
     invest in their future. It contributes toward building a work 
     force that is healthier, more stable, better educated, and 
     more productive.
       Raising the minimum age will require members of Congress of 
     both parties to be willing to overcome the divide: to be open 
     to the debate, to consider the needs of hard-working 
     constituents and taxpayers, to consider the wide range of 
     benefits--and ultimately, to give a raise to the people who 
     need it the most.
       We strongly urge every member of Congress to vote for the 
     Raise the Wage Act and enact this important piece of 
     legislation as quickly as possible.
           Sincerely,

                                               Minor Sinclair,

                                    Director, US Domestic Program,
     Oxfam America.

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