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Once again, the Republicans in the Senate have rejected an increase in the minimum wage. They support tax breaks for multi-millionaires, but they oppose helping the working poor to earn a decent income.

We have to raise the minimum wage.

Plain and simple, Congress must act to meet the needs of our constituents. We can do that by strengthening families, increasing the minimum wage, and ensuring equal pay for equal work.

Improving the outlook for U.S workers isn't about creating millions of minimum-wage jobs. It is about creating sustainable, skilled employment that allows Americans to earn a fair wage with benefits that allows them to pay for housing and food on the table and sustain a middle-class lifestyle.

Raising the minimum wage means we have workers paying more in to support the Social Security system.

We took the position we wanted our people to be better than minimum wage, so we're going to pay better than minimum wage, and we still do that.

A minimum wage leads to higher levels of unemployment.

It is time this Congress listened to the American people and minimum-wage workers, and it is time that we act.

Our economy is robust and will remain strong as more Americans who want a job find one. Republican economic policies based on tax relief are working for the American people.