    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1996, Book I)]
    [May 23, 1996]
    [Page 815]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on House of Representatives Action on Minimum Wage Legislation
    May 23, 1996

        I commend the House for responding to my challenge and voting to
    give millions of America's hardest workers a raise.
        A bipartisan majority rejected the efforts of the Republican
    leadership and recognized that raising the minimum wage is the right
    thing to do. You can't raise a family on $4.25 an hour.
        I am also pleased that the House rejected an effort to defraud the
    American people with a provision that would have eliminated the minimum
    wage altogether, as well as overtime protections, for workers hired at
    fully two-thirds of American businesses. For millions of American
    workers, this hoax would actually have meant lower wages and even a
    return to sweatshop conditions.
        Senator Dole should bring the minimum wage to the Senate floor for a
    clean up-or-down vote before he leaves office. That is the way to honor
    our values of work, family, opportunity, and responsibility.