Pelosi Remarks from Press Conference Call on National Minimum Wage Day
Contact: Drew Hammill, 202-226-7616
Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez, Congressman George Miller (D-CA) and Janet Rowland, a low-wage worker, held a press conference call today on National Minimum Wage Day – a day advocating for the need to act now on a minimum wage increase to jumpstart the middle class and improve the lives of working families across the country. While Republicans have repeatedly blocked legislation supported by a strong majority of Americans to raise the wage, House Democrats continue to fight to increase the minimum wage to $10.10, because no one who works hard and plays by the rules should live in poverty. Below are the Leader’s remarks followed by the Q&A session with reporters:
Leader Pelosi Opening Remarks:
Leader Pelosi. Good morning everyone. Thank you for joining us on this call on National Minimum Wage Day. I’m pleased to be here with Secretary Tom Perez, who is a champion for America’s workers even before he became Secretary of Labor; with Ranking Member George Miller as Ranking Member and Chairman of the Education and the Workforce Committee – he’s a champion of increasing minimum wage and is responsible for its passage in 2007 and also with Senator Harkin’s legislation to raise it now. Our special guest is Janet Rowland, a single mom, low-wage worker from North Carolina. She’s our VIP on the call. She is the most important person because it is for her that we are making the fight.
On ten-ten, October 10th, this is the date with profound meaning for the hard working minimum wage earning men and women of America: National Minimum Wage Day. By raising the federal minimum wage to $10.10, we can transform the lives of working families across the country, increasing the wages of 25 million Americans, lifting as many as 6 million people out of poverty, generating $22 billion in increased economic activity. The American people deserve an economy that works for everyone, not just the wealthy and well-connected. That’s why we made raising the minimum wage a key pillar of our Middle Class Jumpstart.
Nearly two-thirds of minimum wage workers are women. In the wealthiest country on earth, a single mother with two kids working full-time, earning the minimum wage lives in poverty – with an income below the poverty line of more than $5,000. For us to grow and strengthen the middle class, this must change. We must raise the minimum wage and unleash the full potential of women into our economy, for we know that when women succeed, America succeeds.
Unfortunately, Republicans in Congress are more concerned about strengthening the special interests than doing right by hard working American families. Our nation should honor the industry, dedication, and productivity of our working families. On 10/10, we say it is long past time for Congress to raise the minimum wage, create jobs, and recognize the true value of America’s workers. So urgent is this, I think we should come back before the election to pass the minimum wage, and there are Republicans who agree that it should be raised. The Retail Association is saying: people need more purchasing power. Let’s just get the job done for our economy. With that, I am very pleased to yield to Secretary of Labor Tom Perez. Thank you for being with us, Mr. Secretary. Thank you for your leadership on behalf of America’s working families.
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As the participants cue up, I want to pick up where Ranking Member George Miller left off. As we observe 10/10 day, what better way to observe it than for the Leadership to call us back today. This can happen very quickly: the legislation is there; the need is urgent; the support is overwhelming in the public; the President would sign the bill immediately – he’s been a champion on the subject. And to hear Janet’s story, which is a story that all of us have heard across the country, over and over again in our own districts for those of us who are Members of Congress. Just think if Janet could spend more time with her children – the lovely family that she has, the wonderful conscientious mother that she is – let’s give her time to spend with her family.
Any questions?
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Q: Yes, thank you for doing this and taking my question. I was wondering if you could address specifically how this issue impacts low-wage Hispanic workers because they still have the highest unemployment rate as it is. And also, what are the real chances of this getting to [the Floor] before the end of the year? The [Speaker] hasn’t really moved, and Republicans continue to say that it’s actually going to hurt businesses that are creating jobs. Thank you.
Rep. Miller. I would say, first of all, this directly addresses Hispanic low-wage workers in this country. We know in many of the industries where federal minimum wage is predominant, those jobs are being filled by Hispanics. So this is a direct impact. The fact of the matter is: this can be done, as Leader Pelosi pointed out, by the Republican Leadership in the House because that’s where the stalemate is. You can’t get a vote in front of the House without the Speaker coming forward and calling that into place.
So this is very important and it’s very real, and it’s very important to our economy to continue that job growth that we are now experiencing.
Secretary Perez. Congressman Miller is absolutely right. Twenty-five percent of those who would directly benefit from the minimum wage hike are Latino. So, this is very real for every community including, but not limited to the Latino community.
Leader Pelosi. And as Mr. Miller referenced those who make those incomes partially by tips. The tip minimum wage is immorally low and many of those jobs are held – whether they’re wait staff in restaurants, largely that’s what it is – many of those jobs are held by Latinos and many particularly Latinas. And that’s why across the country our When Women Succeed, America Succeeds agenda is one that has sprung from the community because Latinas and the Latino community in general – the fastest growing part of our economy is Latino owned businesses. But for those businesses to thrive, as Congressman Miller said, they need customers, they need credit, they need a workforce, but what they most need are customers to make it work. And if people don’t have purchasing power, even the entrepreneurship has slowed down. So it is essential for the Latino community. And of course, it’s also an issue of income disparity, which is why we want equal pay for equal work – not to go off on too many other aspects of “When Women Succeeds, America Succeeds” – but the reason the disparity is greater among Latinas is because so many of them are making the minimum wage, which is vastly lower than what they should be making. This is essential to the life of the family, the success of small businesses and the strength of our economy. I spoke to the Hispanic Chamber of Congress in Salt Lake City recently and this was a very strong focus of their emphasis.
Q: Thank you for taking my question. Secretary Perez, I have two questions for you. The first is: the New York Times is reporting this morning that you are emerging as a leading candidate for Attorney General and that the Administration is saying an announcement is coming in the next few weeks. Has the White House communicated to you that you’re a leading candidate for Attorney General and are you – as a former Justice Department civil rights official – interested in becoming Attorney General? And my second question is: can you also speak a bit more about your time on the road, visiting people, and what it’s shown you about those who are making minimum wage.
Rep. Miller. We would obviously like very much to keep this on the topic of minimum wage. The Secretary has been traveling the country talking to leaders and workers all across the country. So certainly he can respond to that.
Secretary Perez. My focus with the White House and everything I do here is to help the Janet Rowlands of the world, making sure we expand opportunity for everyone, including raising the minimum wage, including our skills agenda. That’s been my exclusive focus. And in my travels across the country, I think of people like Roberta, who is a 70 year old Latina that I met in Houston. She’s been a janitor for 30 years. She makes $8.00 an hour at age 70. She helped organize other janitors in the city of Houston because they were working full time and getting their food from the food pantry. That’s not how we are as a nation and that’s what we saw in Houston and that’s regrettably who I see across the nation; that’s the face of the minimum wage. There’s no dignity in a 40 or 50 hour work week [for workers] who, at the end of the week, go to the food pantry to get your food. And that’s why we’ve been fighting so hard for this ten-ten bill, and that’s why I so applaud the daringness of Leader Pelosi and Congressman Miller who have been such remarkable partners in this effort. And to the Janet Rowlands of the world – we owe it to them to make every day Minimum Wage Day.
Q: Ms. Rowland, could you just say a little more about your school – where you’re going, what you’re taking – and also if you could just say a little bit more about…did you say you used food stamps and childcare help? Thanks so much.
Janet Rowland. I sat down with my financial advisor at school and talked to her about what I’m trying to do. My goal is to open up some shelter for women who are dealing with domestic violence and trying to get a way out. I had to drop out of school a couple years ago because I’ve been out on my own since I was sixteen. And so I got my GED and was supposed to start school a couple years ago, but because of my funds, I wasn’t able to start. But I’m enrolled in school now. I wasn’t able to start this past semester because I wasn’t able to pay for my registration. But hopefully by the time January comes, I’ll be able to pay for my registration and I will start with business administration and then – I’ll be in school for the next five to eight years.
Leader Pelosi closing remarks:
Leader Pelosi. I do think we should emphasize again this could all happen in a matter of days. Today, ten-ten, is the perfect day for the Speaker to call us back to take the vote to make a difference in the lives of people. And it would also be helpful for him to call us back to vote on the war, another subject that the American people want to see Congress act upon even before the election. So we have important work to do. We should be working in DC to get the job done for the American people. It’s urgent in both cases but in terms of the Janet Rowlands of the world – and aren’t we proud of you, Janet. Thank you for sharing your story with us. As George said, it’s a story of millions of Americans. And Secretary of Labor Perez has said: he’s heard of that story as he listened across America.
So again, our call, our plea on ten-ten is: call us back. Raise the minimum wage to $10.10.
Thank you all. Thank you, Mr. Secretary, thank you George, and especially thank you Janet Rowland. Thank you all for joining us this morning. It’s morning in California so, thank you.
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