The Issues:
Minimum Wage Increase - On Tuesday, September 21, at 10 a.m., the U.S. Senate will be considering an amendment, offered by Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) to the Bankruptcy Reform Act (S. 1301) to raise the federal minimum wage. After scheduled debate, a motion will be made to table the amendment, thereby killing a proposed wage increase of $1.00 over two years.
The amendment (actually, the Fair Minimum Wage Act, S. 1805) would affect nearly 12 million Americans who work full time and earn only $10,712 annually -- a figure that falls considerably below the official poverty level for a family of three. It is an important fact that two-thirds of minimum wage workers are women -- most of whom are supporting families.
Bankruptcy - After the minimum wage vote, the bankruptcy bill will be taken up. Despite negotiations between the bill's chief sponsors, Sens. Charles Grassley (R-IA) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) which produced a managers' amendment with a number of improvements, the bill (S. 1301) is still fundamentally flawed. Provisions pertaining to payment of past due child support are not adequate and many other elements which place divorced women in jeopardy remain in the bill. This legislation was written to primarily benefit the banking industry and their hugely profitable credit card operations; it makes it much more difficult for individuals or couples to re-organize their finances in the wake of divorce, extended illness, job loss or other personal difficulties.
How You Can Help:
Please call, fax or e-mail your senator immediately to urge her/him to oppose any attempt to table the minimum wage increase amendment. This is an issue of immense important to low-income women and the increase -- though modest-- will be tremendously helpful to many struggling households. Thank Sen. Kennedy for his determined efforts to help poor women.
Additionally, please let your senator know that the changes to the bankruptcy bill are still inadequate and that you urge him or her to cast a final vote against passage of S. 1301.
The main number for Congress is (202) 224-3121; then ask for your senator's office.