Elizabeth Warren: “it has been 7 years since Congress increased the minimum wage, 7 years since Congress stood up for our working families…”

“it has been 7 years since Congress increased the minimum wage, 7 years since Congress stood up for our working families, 7 years since Congress gave America a raise. Earlier today the Senate had a chance to do something about that when we voted on whether to increase the minimum wage. Earlier today we had a chance to give a raise to the parents of at least 14 million children, a chance to lift nearly 1 million full-time workers out of poverty. A majority of Senators tried to do that today. Fifty-five Senators supported raising the minimum wage, but Republicans filibustered the bill, so it didn't pass. This is outrageous. For nearly half a century, as we came out of the Great Depression, the people of this country lived by the basic principle that we all do better when we work together and build opportunities for everyone. For nearly half a century, as our country got richer, our people got richer, and as our people got richer, our country got richer. The basic idea was that as the pie gets bigger, we all get a little more--even those who only make the minimum wage. I know this story because it is my story. Like a lot of folks, I grew up in a family who had ups and downs. When I was 12, my daddy had a heart attack and was out of work for a long time. The bills piled up. We lost our car, and we were right on the edge of losing our home. My mom was 50 years old when she pulled on her best dress and walked to the Sears to get a job.…”