Bill Lee: “I want to thank the gentlewoman from Florida for that very important statement and for once again raising the issue of…”

“I want to thank the gentlewoman from Florida for that very important statement and for once again raising the issue of rural poverty and the StrikeForce and the fact that we know how to eliminate poverty. We just need the political will to do that. I know your constituents are very proud of you, and you are waging a noble fight each and every day on their behalf. Thank you for being here this evening. There are a couple more statistics which I would like to discuss for just a few minutes. That is the issue of raising the minimum wage. We know that raising the minimum wage is not only good for our hardworking families, but it also makes economic sense, too. {time} 1830 According to the Economic Policy Institute, raising the minimum wage to $12 an hour by 2020 would lift more than 35 million Americans out of poverty--that is just to $12 an hour. But in many parts of the country, even $12 is not sufficient. We are mounting campaigns around the country for $15 an hour. In some communities and States, you can barely get by on $15 an hour, but raising it to $12 is a step forward. Just raising the minimum wage is a step forward. So many poor people are working. They are part of the working poor. They are working two jobs, and they still have to rely on SNAP benefits, Medicaid, and Section 8 housing. People who work should not be poor, and so we have got to have a living wage.…”