January 11, 2007

Yesterday afternoon, the House of Representatives passed the Fair Minimum
Wage Act of 2007 (H.R. 2) by a vote of 315 to 116. The bill raises the
minimum
wage from $5.15 per hour to $7.25 per hour over the next two years and two
months. This would take place in three stages: to $5.85 an hour 60 days
after
being signed into law by the president, to $6.55 a year later and then to
$7.25 the following year. According to a spokesman for Senate Majority
Leader
Harry Reid (D-NV.), a vote in the Senate is not expected until the end of
next week.

Of particular note, and perhaps as an opportunity for future action, are
the following comments made by Representative English (PA) - they can be
found
in yesterday's Congressional Record:

"Today, we have an opportunity to raise the minimum wage, but because of
the procedural restrictions we face on the floor some are going to be left
behind
and that is particularly disappointing.

"While H.R. 2 will provide a $2.10 raise for American workers, sadly, it
fails to take into account many Americans with disabilities who are in our
workforce.
These are disabled Americans who receive SSI disability benefits who are
active participants in the workforce and maintaining jobs that give them
great
satisfaction. Unfortunately, they are left behind because, currently, SSI
beneficiaries are limited to $900 per month in order to remain eligible to
receive
benefits. If the wage hike under consideration today goes into law without
raising an earnings limit for people on SSI, Americans with disabilities
engaged
in full-time employment would either potentially lose their benefits or have
to cut back on their hours. That is a decision they shouldn't have to make.

"Mr. Speaker, this is not only a disincentive to work, it is a woefully
shortsighted policy, which hopefully we will be able to correct before this
law
goes into effect.

"I introduced H.R. 290 which would ensure that workers with disabilities
would not lose their payments through raising the earnings limitation on
SSI.
I wasn't able to offer that provision today because no amendments are being
allowed. The result, unfortunately, is, having barred Republicans from
having
offered this change as an amendment, the majority has created as real
victims not House Republicans but Americans with disabilities. And that is a
shame.

"Although an increase in the minimum wage is critical, and I strongly
support this bill, I sincerely hope that the new majority will move
ultimately to
rectify this inequity in this Congress."

Posted by Miriam V.