[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 14]
[House]
[Page 20226]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




DEMOCRATS' EFFORT TO INCREASE MINIMUM WAGE IS PART OF BROADER ECONOMIC 
                                 AGENDA

  (Mr. ARCURI asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. ARCURI. Madam Speaker, today marks the first time in a decade 
that those hardworking workers who earn minimum wage will receive a pay 
raise. Today, around the Nation, workers who have been paid $5.15 for 
10 years will finally get a boost in their pay. This wage increase will 
directly benefit low-income workers who need it most.
  We should never forget that most minimum wage workers are adults who 
work to support themselves and their families, and many are single 
mothers who must work several jobs to make ends meet. And while some at 
the very top are primarily benefiting from the supposed economic 
recovery, most workers have seen very little economic progress. Average 
real wages are lower today than they were in 2001, even though 
productivity is up by 13 percent.
  Madam Speaker, this wage increase is a great concrete step by the new 
Democratic-led Congress toward a broader agenda that will help us not 
only grow our economy, but ensure that every American benefits from 
that growth.

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