Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Charles W. Boustany, Jr. (R-La.) has signed on as a cosponsor to the Working Families Wage & Access to Health Care Act, a comprehensive package to increase the minimum wage, expand access to affordable health care, and protect small businesses and their workers.  Tomorrow, the House of Representatives will debate a minimum wage increase without any committee hearings on the legislation.  Further, no opportunity for amendment will be available to improve the bill on the House floor.  

Last month, President Bush detailed his desire to forge an agreement that both raises the minimum wage and protects small businesses and their workers.  Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) last week signaled his willingness to do the same.  

“Like many of my colleagues, I am more than willing to work on a compromise that protects both the workers who depend on the minimum wage but one that also protects the small business owners who pay the minimum wage,” Boustany said.  “Unfortunately, the Democratic leadership in the House has missed a great opportunity by instead introducing a measure that is not supported by either the Senate or President Bush.”

The Working Families Wage & Access to Health Care Act includes the same minimum wage language as the House Democrat leadership’s proposal.  However, the House Republican alternative includes important protections for small businesses and their workers, as well as reforms to expand working families’ access to affordable health care.

“I am hopeful that this compromise legislation can serve as a model as we move forward on this debate,” Boustany added.  

In July 2006, Representative Boustany voted in favor of the Estate Tax and Extension of the Tax Relief Act of 2006 (H.R. 5970), which included an increase in the minimum wage as well as an extension of the GO-Zone legislation.

Attached is a summary of the Working Families Wage & Access to Health Care Act.

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