Roland Gutierrez: “last week, our President issued a challenge to Members of Congress. He asked that this Congress take a stand for…”

“last week, our President issued a challenge to Members of Congress. He asked that this Congress take a stand for Americans who work and sweat and toil ever day, yet earn only $4.25 an hour. And how have we responded to that challenge? The majority of my colleagues--colleagues who make $64.40 an hour-- have responded with a simple answer--$4.25 is enough; $5.15--the level the President has asked the minimum wage be increased to--is too much; and $5.15 an hour is too much to pay the millions of Americans who carry lunch pails to work every day, who sweep the floors of our hospitals, who crouch behind assembly lines putting together our appliances. This decision means that more painful decisions will have to be made. My legislation says that if we dismiss this increase from $4.25 to $5.15, my colleagues and I will feel a little bit of the pain as well. Just a little bit of pain. It isn't the pain that day laborers feel at the end of long hours of manual labor. It isn't the pain that young mothers feel at the end of a long day on the assembly line. It isn't the pain garment workers feel after a long day of piecing together our clothing. it isn't the pain of not having the means to support your family or feed you kids. Almost five months of sweat and toil in jobs that most people don't even want. A Member of Congress has to work from January 1 until January 11 to make $3,500. Eleven days of work.…”