Elijah Cummings: “America's labor force is the backbone of our flourishing economy. Without the efforts of workers in America's…”

“America's labor force is the backbone of our flourishing economy. Without the efforts of workers in America's industries, big business could not thrive. When we do our job, we receive due compensation. The American people should be no different. It is our job to ensure that America's workers are not taken advantage of. It is convenient for big business to forget those whose labor helps their companies thrive. Well, it is our job to remind them. It is our job to ensure that the minimum wage levels will afford our Nation's workforce with a decent life-style. It is our job to ensure that the Social Security trust fund is intact when they retire. It amazes me that while colleagues on the other side of the aisle profess to raise the minimum wage, they continue in their quest to provide careless tax benefits to the wealthy and threaten the Social Security trust fund. Raising the minimum wage over the course of 3 years is not enough. Our workers deserve more. Our workers deserve better. America's workers are doing their jobs and now is the time that we do ours. Mr. Speaker, I urge that we reject this bill and fully support the Democratic alternative.”