Frederica Wilson: “We wonder why people need nutrition assistance in the first place. Well, it's because our minimum wage is inadequate…”

“We wonder why people need nutrition assistance in the first place. Well, it's because our minimum wage is inadequate, and it's because the government has given up on creating jobs. A parent working full-time at minimum wage will simply not earn enough income to cover basic needs. SNAP recipients are not lazy. It's this Congress that is lazy. Mr. Speaker, if you want to cut $40 billion in nutrition funding, I have a two-part plan for you. Raise the minimum wage so workers can feed themselves, and pass the American Jobs Act so Americans can find work in the first place. Mr. Speaker, the working poor, seniors, and children are suffering now, and you plan to cut nutrition assistance? Not only will they suffer, but some may die. It's time for this Congress to address the real issues: raise the minimum wage, and jobs, jobs, jobs. ____________________”