[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 14]
[House]
[Page 20227]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE

  (Mr. HALL of New York asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute.)
  Mr. HALL of New York. Madam Speaker, when the Democrats won control 
of Congress in November, we committed to raising the minimum wage for 
the first time in 10 years and to provide tax relief to our small 
businesses.
  Today's increase in the Federal minimum wage marks a concrete step 
that this new Congress is taking to provide greater opportunity and 
prosperity for all working Americans. The considerable small business 
tax relief that was passed along with the minimum wage increase 
reflects a broader American agenda to expand our economy and give small 
businesses more room to grow and succeed. This relief includes allowing 
small businesses larger tax reductions, making it easier to expand and 
provide better services, and specific relief from the AMT.
  I am proud that the State of New York has already been a leader in 
providing workers with a living wage, and the raise that goes into 
effect today will put our businesses in New York on a level playing 
field with the rest of the country.

                          ____________________