DeLauro Supports Increase in Minimum Wage

DeLauro Supports Increase in Minimum Wage

Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (Conn.-3) today delivered the following remarks on the floor of the U.S. House during debate of a measure that would raise the federal minimum wage. Following is the text of her remarks, as prepared for delivery.

"Mister Speaker, it has been ten years since this Congress last approved an increase in the minimum wage. In that time, increasing numbers of families have fallen out of the middle class, victims of economic pressures—from rising health care and college tuition costs to gas prices—and an economic policy from this administration that has always seemed to push working families aside.

"That is why raising the federal minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 is so important. To be sure, the fundamentals of our economy remain strong - but that barely masks the troubles families are facing, with household income down nearly $1,300 from 2000 and employee compensation at its lowest levels in 40 years. Little wonder this economy is not producing rising living standards for most families. Today, we can expect to have the first sustained period of economic growth since World War Two that fails to offer a comparable increase in wages for workers.

"Despite all this, some still fail to recognize something elemental - that raising the minimum wage is not about handouts or making political statements, but rather raising the earnings floor for workers in this country. Indeed, today, a full time minimum wage worker still earns only $10,700 per year.

"But as much as raising the minimum wage would help these families, the fact is that we would all benefit from this increase. More than 3 million children stand to benefit directly from an increase in the minimum wage. And that is not even taking into account the 8.2 million additional workers who are in line to get a pay raise as well when the overall floor for compensation rises.

"And so, raising the minimum wage has big consequences ke. Indeed, in the 4 years after the last minimum wage increase, the American economy experienced its strongest growth in over 3 decades. Just last month, forecasters were crowing about our economy adding 167,000 jobs in December. But after the last minimum wage increase, new jobs were added at an average pace of 218,000 per month - nearly 11 million in all.

"In fact, between 1997 and 2003, small business employment grew more in states with a higher minimum wage than those with the federal minimum wage. Together, that tells us that raising the minimum wage is not only a matter of security for families - but a catalyst for our engines of job creation as well.

"Mister Speaker, it comes down to priorities. It is long past time that this Congress recognize that we have an obligation to work to raise the standard of living in America for every family. That is what this legislation is about, and I am proud to support it."

http://www.house.gov/delauro/press/2007/January/Minimum_Wage_01_10_07.html