Hoyer Floor Remarks on the Raise the Wage Act

I thank the gentleman for yielding I like the gentleman from Pennsylvania he and our friends we disagree I proudly voted against the tax bill which I think spike the deficit and we had a continuation of the extraordinary growth of jobs and the economy under the Obama administration and that's continued in a straight line didn't spike up straight line Speaker I rise in strong support of raise the wage act This is direct not indirect, not trickle down direct Saying to some of the people who worked hardest and can make the least we're gonna help We think what you do is valuable to our community into our society We need to make certain that way. Just keep pace with the cost of living. We haven't done that 10 years We haven't given a raise we need to value the labor that are people contribute into the economy That's why we have a federal minimum wage to ensure that everyone who works hard full time or to be able to afford not simply to get by but to try to get ahead I've heard from many in my district who have told me that increasing the minimum wage will have a major impact on their incomes and Lives Husband Hudson from Owings in Calvert County, Maryland makes the Maryland minimum wage of $10 and 10 cents an hour and he supplements his income with forming on his land He's 60 years old and looking ahead to retirement, knowing that a higher minimum wage in his final years of working will go along way towards giving him and his wife retirement security Delano Alexander of Clinton, Maryland is an environmental service aid at Prince George's Hospital Center here in 12 80 - five cents an hour President land. If we pass this bill, we'll get an income boost through the years to help him and his family get ahead Victoria, victorious of Berwyn Heights, Maryland, started his career as a non Union Day labor barely making a living. Now. He has a Union construction job and he's earning better pay, he wrote. To ask me to support a higher minimum wage so that others who are working with him and haven't found better jobs can get the same economic security he We've referred 20 - Seven million 30 - Three million. Whatever that number is between 20 -, seven and 30. - three gonna get a raise by this the richest people and america got a huge in increased but And Gail in June, we Mark 10 years since the last minimum wage increase went into effect the longest period without an increase since the minimum wage was first introduced under Franklin Roosevelt's new deal I was proud to bring legislation to the floor in 20 07 to raise the minimum wage The last time Congress did so and I'm proud to do it again today This is long over due something the previous report Majority should have made a priority but failed to accomplish Today, low income workers in our economy are getting a bad deal with a minimum wage that doesn't even allow many workers to get by let alone get ahead working 40 hours and living in poverty That's not a successful American economy because 10 years of pass without an increase worker stuck earning the current minimum wage of just 720 -. Five an hour have effectively received a 17 percent Over the last 10 years that's why the House will vote today on the raise the Wage Act which will gradually raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2020 -, 56 years from now, this bill also eliminates the sub minimum wage for those with disabilities, which will ensure their equal pay and the ability to live with independence. Many States and municipalities have already raised their minimum wages to this level and The dire consequences that someone on the other side of the aisle have protected My home state of Maryland took action earlier this year to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour I'm proud of that fact the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has determined that raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour would lift one point three million Americans out of poverty not a good thing to do Does that make you feel better that we're helping to lift people out of poverty and the economic policy Institute says that doing so would cause wages to go up for 30 - three million Americans that's good for them, but I suggest as well, it's good for our economy. It's good for all of us cuz it will help grow the economy. Make folks more independent, make them feel better about themselves and about what they're doing. we campaigned on a promise to raise wages and make sure that American workers can access all the opportunities that make the American That's what we are doing today and I thank chairman Bobby Scott Democrats on the Education Labor Committee for their hard work on this legislation We said we gonna raise the wage Today we're gonna raise the wage It's the right thing to do I urge every member to support