Providing for Consideration of H.R. 5672, Science, State, Justice, Commerce, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2007

PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 5672, SCIENCE, STATE, JUSTICE, COMMERCE, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2007

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mrs. McCARTHY. Madam Speaker, I oppose the Rule, because it prevents an amendment offered by Representatives OBEY, HOYER and MOLLOHAN to phase in over two years an increase in the minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 an hour.

Madam Speaker, millions of hard working Americans are barely earning enough to support their families on the wages they are being paid. Some of these people are single mothers, and some are working several jobs just to make ends meet.

Madam Speaker, the proposal to raise the minimum wage is a modest one and it is phased in over time.

Department of Labor figures show that the minimum wage was at its most valuable in 1968, and since then its value has fluctuated, but it has never been lower than it is now.

In January 2006, it would have needed to be increased to $9.05 to equal the purchasing power of the statutory minimum wage in 1968.

There has been no raise in the minimum wage in almost ten years, and minimum wage increases over the years have not kept up with increased prices.

I have always, and will continue always to support a reasonable increase in the minimum wage, and since the Rule sought to prohibit an amendment to do this, I oppose this Rule.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

http://thomas.loc.gov