Xavier Becerra: “about a year and a half ago, January 1995, the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Armey], the majority leader, said, ``I will…”

“about a year and a half ago, January 1995, the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Armey], the majority leader, said, ``I will resist an increase in the minimum wage with every fiber in my being.'' Well, sure enough, on more than five occasions on this floor, Democrats tried to pass a minimum wage bill and each time it was defeated. The result, about 12 million Americans had no chance to see their wages increased. The result of that, well, about $5.6 billion in lost earnings for these people. What does that mean? About 3 rac{1}{2} months of groceries for an individual on the minimum wage or maybe 6 months of health care insurance payments or about 4 rac{1}{2} months of payments of utility bills or about 2 months of housing for that particular worker were lost as a result of 18 months of delays. It is about time, Mr. Speaker, that we got a message here in Congress, the message that America has known for a long time. American workers deserve a raise. I am pleased that we are finally going to get the message here in Congress.”