On the recordApril 15, 2015
I thank the gentlewoman from California for sharing her insights with us and the very important points that have been made. As I stated a moment ago, our economy relies upon consumers buying products that they want, not just products that they need. But $15 an hour is what we are trying to fight for, and even with that, that will barely provide the needs of these families. They can barely cover their rent or keep food on the table. They can't buy new cars and support the American auto industry. They can't afford new clothes, supporting American retailers, and they can't buy computers or smart phones, supporting Silicon Valley. Six out of the ten largest corporations with median wages of less than $15 also rank among the most occupations projected to add the most jobs in the coming years. And as the low-wage workforce grows, the declining purchasing power of Americans means that there is less demand for goods and services in the economy. {time} 1815 If we want to grow our economy, if we are focused on creating jobs, we need to support the people that do just that. I would like now to yield to my colleague from the great State of Texas, who stands up for working-class families every single solitary day and has even introduced legislation to secure a living wage for the families in our country.
