[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 18]
[House]
[Page 26111]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                 STATE FLEXIBILITY FOR THE MINIMUM WAGE

  (Mr. DeMINT asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. DeMINT. Mr. Speaker, Americans are most secure when they are most 
free. Because of welfare reform, the poorest Americans in every State 
have begun to realize the benefits of freedom because we have asked the 
States to find jobs for people on welfare. The States have responded. 
In fact, the number of people on welfare in my home State of South 
Carolina has fallen by 63 percent in just 3 years. Over 70,000 South 
Carolinians now have productive jobs and have been set free from 
government dependency.
  I believe it is time to give our States more flexibility so they can 
build upon these successes. It is time to trust our States with the 
minimum wage.
  Mr. Speaker, another increase in the national minimum wage will make 
it harder to get people off of welfare. One size does not fit all and 
Washington does not know what is best for every State.
  I urge my colleagues to support State flexibility for the minimum 
wage and help secure the future for Americans now on welfare.

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