The following is DeFazio's statement against the bill:

"For the ten years the Republicans have controlled Congress, they have adamantly refused to increase the federal minimum wage which has been stuck at $5.15 an hour since 1997. In the 9 years the wage has been frozen, more than six million full-time hard working Americans have fallen below the poverty level. Three million children depend on parents who earn the minimum wage and they are living well below the poverty level.

In a truly cynical exercise, the Republican majority said they would agree to a modest phased increased in the minimum wage if we would give huge tax breaks to the wealthiest of the wealthy. So, it's Christmas in July for the wealthy, but it's April Fools for working American who will have to pay $80 billion a year in taxes so the likes of Paris Hilton and Lee Raymond, a retired CEO from Exxon Mobil who got a $450 million retirement bonus, will get more tax cuts . It's a bad deal and it's bad policy. Shame on the Republican party. We need a minimum wage that will support working families, not more tax breaks for those who've already made it to the top.