88R9959 CW-D
By: Reynolds H.C.R. No. 50
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Federal law sets the federal minimum wage at $7.25
an hour; and
WHEREAS, The last time Congress raised the federal minimum
wage was in 2007; that year, the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007 was
passed to gradually raise the federal minimum wage from $5.15 an
hour to $7.25 an hour in 2009; the Act included small business tax
relief provisions and was signed into law by President
George W. Bush; and
WHEREAS, Speaking at a 2006 news conference, President Bush
said that he supported increasing the federal minimum wage, adding
that to achieve this and other goals, Congress needed to put aside
partisan differences and work constructively to address the vital
issues confronting our nation; and
WHEREAS, In the nearly 16 years since President Bush signed
the last federal minimum wage increase into law, the desire for
Congress to put aside partisan differences and work constructively
to raise the federal minimum wage has grown stronger in the states;
and
WHEREAS, To account for cost of living increases, 30 states
have set their minimum wage higher than the federal minimum wage,
though not at the level of a living wage; 15 states, including
Texas, have set their minimum wage in line with the federal minimum
wage; and
WHEREAS, Supporters of a living wage emphasize that
increasing the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour would reduce
poverty and grow the economy; their review of previous minimum wage
increases found little or no evidence that raising the minimum wage
reduces employment; and
WHEREAS, Demonstrating that paying workers more reduces
turnover, numerous companies, including Amazon, Walmart, Target,
Best Buy, Costco, and Starbucks, are now paying many hourly workers
at least $15 an hour; a 2017 Quinnipiac University poll found that a
majority of Americans would support a minimum wage of $15 an hour;
and
WHEREAS, Offering a Texas perspective, noted American
economist Dr. James K. Galbraith, a professor at The University of
Texas at Austin, wrote that states such as Texas would benefit from
raising the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour because such states
have too many low-wage workers, too much poverty, and too many
people who are getting food stamps and other welfare because they
aren't getting paid enough; and
WHEREAS, The well-being of this nation depends on a strong
and vibrant economy, and Congress should heed the advice of experts
such as Dr. Galbraith and raise the minimum wage; now, therefore,
be it
RESOLVED, That the 88th Legislature of the State of Texas
hereby respectfully urge the Congress of the United States to raise
the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward official
copies of this resolution to the president of the United States, to
the president of the Senate and the speaker of the House of
Representatives of the United States Congress, and to all the
members of the Texas delegation to Congress with the request that
this resolution be entered in the Congressional Record as a
memorial to the Congress of the United States of America.