Political Quotes

“Mr. Chairman, I have submitted this amendment for the consideration of our colleagues because I think it is very important. Even though the hour is late, and the debate has gone on a long time, and indeed, we have even addressed the minimum wage in the course of debating some other amendments en bloc, I think it is very important that the House speak to this issue. What my amendment does, and I will read it, it says 'This act shall not apply to any provision in a Federal statute or proposed for final Federal regulation that establishes a minimum wage.' That is what the amendment is. The purpose of the amendment, Mr. Chairman, is to remove all doubt from where we go from here in establishing a minimum wage. I will not go into, because the hour is late, all the reasons why we need an increase in the minimum wage and how low the purchasing power is. However, Mr. Chairman, I think it is important for Members to know that if this amendment does not pass, a situation will exist that includes the following. Mr. Chairman, just to reiterate for a moment the purpose of this amendment, what this amendment does is to say that unfunded mandate legislation will not affect the establishment of a minimum wage.”