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WASHINGTON, DC -- House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer, and Democratic Policy Committee Chairman George Miller (D-CA) issued the following statement today in response to recent comments by U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snow and U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez that the Bush administration may be open to an increase in the federal minimum wage:
“Two Bush Cabinet officials have indicated that the administration would finally be open to an increase in the national minimum wage, stuck at $5.15 per hour for the past 7 years. This is unexpected, but welcome, news from an administration that has repeatedly rewarded the wealthy special interests at the expense of hard-working Americans. Democrats have legislation to increase the minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25, but House and Senate Republicans have blocked action on the measures. The refusal of Congressional Republicans to even allow a debate or vote on raising the minimum wage reflects a fundamental lack of respect for American workers who are playing by the rules and trying to make ends meet.
“At $5.15 per hour, an American working full-time, all year, earns less than $11,000, which is not enough to meet even the most basic needs. This is immoral. It stands in stark contrast to the average $9.9 million in compensation earned by top executives at the nation’s largest companies. A CEO paid $9.9 million per year makes in just over two hours what a minimum wage worker earns in a whole year.
“The Democratic legislation would also extend the minimum wage to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana islands, a U.S. territory where workers toil in sweatshop conditions to produce goods bearing the ‘Made in the USA’ label. The garment industry in the Marianas hired Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff to help preserve this outrageous and immoral system. And just as Abramoff wanted, the House Republican leadership buried the reform legislation.
“Republican leaders in the House should allow an honest debate and a clean vote on the Democratic legislation to raise the minimum wage. Last week we distributed a House discharge petition – already signed by 185 Democrats -- to force the Republican leadership to act on the minimum wage increase. We call on those Republicans who claim they support a minimum wage increase to sign the discharge petition so immediate action on the legislation can be taken.”
Visit http://edworkforce.house.gov/democrats/labor_wagehourissues.shtml for more information on the minimum wage.
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