[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 9]
[House]
[Page 12261]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE

  (Mr. CARNAHAN asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. CARNAHAN. Mr. Speaker, this Congress has been consumed with 
giving tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans, and it is time we look 
at some of the average Americans and facts about the minimum wage.
  Congress has not raised the minimum wage since 1997. The minimum wage 
is now at its lowest level in 50 years adjusted for inflation. Does 
anyone really believe it is possible to make even the most basic ends 
meet on $5.15 an hour? A minimum-wage worker working full time all year 
will earn just $10,700. It takes a full day's pay for a minimum wage 
earner to pay for one tank of gas today.
  6.6 million people will benefit from a rise in the minimum wage. 
Eighty-six percent of Americans support the rise in a minimum wage 
according to a Pugh poll in December of 2005. It is time this Congress 
listened to the American people and minimum-wage workers, and it is 
time that we act.

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