Eva M. Clayton: “Members in the Congress recently released a report, ``Making Work Pay,'' by the Economic Policy Institute which examined…”

“Members in the Congress recently released a report, ``Making Work Pay,'' by the Economic Policy Institute which examined the impact of the increase in the minimum wage in the 104th Congress to $5.15. This report was most encouraging, concluding that increasing the income of the working poor was good for them and good for the Nation's economy. These report findings give strong support for a further increase in the minimum wage. As some are aware, there is legislation to increase the minimum wage to $6.15 an hour by the year 2000. We should consider this legislation this year. The last increase was during the 104th Congress by 90 cents over 2 years, from $4.25 to $5.15. The last time the wage was increased by Congress before the 104th Congress was 1991. Since 1991, the minimum wage remained constant while the cost of living rose 11 percent. That is the cost for food, the cost for transportation, cost for shelter and energy to heat our homes. A single mother supporting two kids at a minimum wage makes $10.70, $2,600 below the poverty line. The report demonstrates that raising the minimum wage benefits primarily adult workers. The report indicates that almost three-fourths, that is 71 percent of all minimum wage workers are adults over the age of 20. In addition, nearly two-thirds, 58 percent of those adult persons are women. Also it is twice as likely that the minimum wage worker will be from rural communities than from urban communities.”