[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 17]
[House]
[Page 22021]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE

  (Ms. SOLIS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, the minimum wage, as you know, has not been 
raised in the last 9 years and is currently at its lowest level in the 
last 50 years when adjusted for inflation. Yet Republicans have 
continually refused to raise the pay of these full-time workers who 
struggle to make ends meet.
  During the last 6 years, by the way, 5 million people now live in 
poverty. Last week the American people spoke out for the Democratic 
majority in Congress, because they agreed that no one in the Nation who 
works hard should be denied a livable wage. In fact, over 70 percent of 
Latinos work at minimum wage to support their children.
  These are hardworking Americans, and they deserve better treatment 
and fairness. Now the American people have spoken and call for 
immediate action to raise the minimum wage. Within the first 100 hours 
of the Congress, Democrats will pass a pay increase for those workers 
who need it the most. It is only fair. How can we as a Nation justify 
giving millionaires tens of thousands of dollars in tax breaks while we 
continue to force more than 6 million Americans to live with just $5.15 
an hour?
  Mr. Speaker, thanks to the election results, we will see a much-
needed raise in the minimum wage for all Americans.

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