Hank Johnson: “I want to make sure that my first public words on this sacred floor address an issue of utmost importance to the…”

“I want to make sure that my first public words on this sacred floor address an issue of utmost importance to the citizens of this great Nation. Today, we will be considering H.R. 2, the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007, to give 13 million Americans a pay raise. This is legislation which I am pleased to be an original cosponsor of. Increasing the minimum wage is necessary. It is a necessary step to help 38 million Americans living in poverty. Yet the Congress for almost 10 years has failed to assist this population by increasing the minimum wage to a decent wage. An increase in the minimum wage would help nearly 700,000 Georgia workers. As I understand it, Mr. Speaker, the majority leadership of the 109th Congress felt it necessary to award themselves a pay raise despite the fact that they worked just over 100 days in 2006. Given that more than half of Americans will benefit from this wage increase, I am looking forward to Americans getting a fair wage today and have this bill pass. Given that more than half of Americans who will benefit from this wage increase work a full week every week, it is time for this Congress to increase the minimum wage and give America's hardest workers a fair wage for a fair day's work.”