Increasing the Minimum Wage

January 10, 2007

H.R. 2 - Changing the way we treat working Americans.

Mr. Speaker. I rise in strong support of raising the minimum wage to help our working families. In November, many Americans cast their votes for change because they were tired of the economic injustices working families have suffered over the last decade. Those who went to the polls want action from a Congress that has failed to raise the federal minimum wage for nearly ten years. Voters in Ohio and five other states who believed in our democracy passed minimum wage increases. This is not only about increasing wages, it's about changing the way we treat our working men and women. It's about paying rent, putting food on the table and paying for our children to go to college. Mr. Speaker. the voters have given us a mandate. And today we act, mindful of that mandate to help working families across this nation by raising the minimum wage. Thank you.