Mark Takano: “I urge my colleagues to listen to their constituents, listen to these businessowners, and raise the minimum wage. It is…”

“I urge my colleagues to listen to their constituents, listen to these businessowners, and raise the minimum wage. It is past time that we took this action to improve the lives of millions of working Americans and strengthen our economy. Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from California. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro). Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague. I am proud to join with him this afternoon to talk about an issue of critical importance to the people of this Nation. Obviously, I want to be very, very clear about the issue of a rise in our minimum wage. For the length of time that I have served in this body, which is for 25 years, I have been a strong supporter of increasing the minimum wage. I believe that it has sustained America's working families and it is justified, which is why I strongly support the Raise the Wage Act. We need to index the minimum wage. It needs to keep up with inflation. It is long past time that this gets done. Time goes on, costs increase, and the minimum wage ought to increase. We can't afford to settle for the status quo. Full-time, year-round work at the current minimum wage of $7.25 leaves a family of three below the Federal poverty line. This disproportionately, by the way, hurts women, who make up nearly two out of three workers making the minimum wage.…”