“Mr. Speaker, we wonder why people need nutrition assistance in the first place. Well, it’s because our minimum wage is inadequate, and it’s because the government has given up on creating jobs”, said Rep. Fredrica Wilson.
On September 18, 2013 the flamboyant and outspoken Fredrica Wilson, the Representative of Florida’s 24th Congressional District asked for and was granted permission to address the United States House of Representatives for one minute regarding the issue of the raising of the minimum wage so people can afford to feed themselves in America.
“Mr. Speaker, we wonder why people need nutrition assistance in the first place. Well, it’s because our minimum wage is inadequate, and it’s because the government has given up on creating jobs. A parent working full-time at minimum wage will simply not earn enough income to cover basic needs. SNAP recipients are not lazy. It’s this Congress that is lazy.”
“Mr. Speaker, if you want to cut $40 billion in nutrition funding, I have a two-part plan for you. Raise the minimum wage so workers can feed themselves, and pass the American Jobs Act so Americans can find work in the first place”, she said.
“Mr. Speaker, the working poor, seniors, and children are suffering now, and you plan to cut nutrition assistance? Not only will they suffer, but some may die. It’s time for this Congress to address the real issues: raise the minimum wage, and jobs, jobs, jobs”, said Rep. Wilson (source: Congressional Record http://thomas.loc.gov).
Rep. Wilson serves on the House Education and Workforce Committee, the Subcommittee on Early Childhood Education, Elementary, and Secondary Education, Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions, Science Space and Technology, Subcommittee on Space, Subcommittee on Technology.