William L. Clay: “Mr. Speaker, our Nation is undergoing tremendous economic change. We are moving into an age of great global trade and…”

“Mr. Speaker, our Nation is undergoing tremendous economic change. We are moving into an age of great global trade and technological advancement, yet until today, the 104th Congress, a Republican-led Congress, has refused to deal with the most basic challenge we face, making sure that low-wage workers are not left behind in this new ever-expanding and ever-changing economy. In 1993 and 1994, President Clinton and the Democratic Congress worked hard to give working people a tax break through the earned income tax credit. This was a downpayment on our commitment to the principle that no one who works full time should live in poverty. The time has now come to pay the second installment on that commitment; to ensure that the minimum wage is a livable wage. The last time Congress voted to increase the minimum wage was in 1989. Since 1989, the purchasing power of the minimum wage has declined to its lowest level in 40 years. The overwhelming majority of Americans... support the President's call to increase the Federal minimum wage above its current rate of $4.25 an hour.”