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Increase the Minimum Wage

September 17, 2014
Speeches

WASHINGTON -- Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05) spoke about the need to increase the minimum wage in order to help American workers and boost the economy.

Below is a video and transcript of the speech.

Thank you Madame Speaker,

This week, the House of Representatives will vote on loosely related bits of campaign fodder bundled together and labeled a "jobs" bill.

But if we really want to help American workers and boost our economy,

Let's take a vote to increase the minimum wage!

Let's show hard working Americans that it is simply unacceptable for a mother working full time to live $400 below the federal poverty line.

Let's show businesses that we understand that added buying power for our workers is the boost this economic recovery needs.

President Truman once said "full human dignity requires at least a minimum level of economic sufficiency and security."

The American people deserve that and more.

The American people want and deserve a vote to increase the minimum wage!

Thank you and I yield back.

Issues:Economy and Jobs