Longterm unemployed across america. It has been a myth that has been put forth and those who seek to undermine this program that individuals who are receiving unemployment assistance who have been unemployed for 27 weeks or more, simply are sitting home looking to collect a check without going out and actively searching for employment. Nothing can be further from the truth. The reality is, and this is connected to the dynamic around income inequality that we are discussing here today, is that for every 2. 8 million, 2. 9 million americans who are unemployed looking for a job, there is only one job that exists. So obviously, we need to do more in this country collectively to generate employment as opposed to exploiting good middleclass jobs to other parts of the world and not seeing any reciprocal economic benefit in return. Im thankful that i have been joined by the coanchor of the c. B. C. Special order, someone whose very district, representing urban parts of clark county and las vegas as well as rural parts of nevada can speak to the issue quite clearly that income inequality and poverty in america is not simply an urban issue or a rural issue, it impacts all of america. And we are thankful in the congress that he has been a strong champion for his district and for these issues that are impacting people a across the country and let me yield to my good friend, representative horsford. Mr. Horsford i thank my good friend, strong advocate for the good people in new york as well as representing the interests of all americans and your leadership in coanchoring this hour on behalf of the Congressional Black Caucus where we bring the issues that most americans want this congress to focus onto the floor of the house of representatives. And i would like to thank you for anchoring this hour and to all of our colleagues who have come to the floor tonight to speak. You know, mr. Speaker, tomorrow night, this chamber will be packed. And seat will be filled every seat in the chamber will. Ave representatives here millions upon millions of americans will be listening to our president in and his state of union and im looking forward to his remarks as we continue to move our country forward. But tonight, we come here to gather, to discuss income inequality and what congress can do in working with the president to move some of these important legislative issues forward on behalf of the constituents that we represent and millions of americans across our great nation. And there is no easy answer for solving the problem of income inequality or economic mobility, and i thank the gentleman from new york for talking about how our various districts are really representative of this issue of income inequality. In my home district of nevada, the 4th district, we have been hit harder than most by higher unemployment, higher home foreclosures, which have led to economic loss. And i want to talk about some of that tonight, because when we talk about issues of income inequality and economic mobility, it is for all incomes, not just for select few. Its for the people in Rural America as well as urban america and these are issues that are important to all of us. Now although we cannot expect congress to solve for each persons economic struggle, we can certainly expect our members of congress not to target those who are struggling to make ends meet, especially by balancing a budget on their backs. As of december 28, this past year, congress did just that unfortunately. And now 1. 6 million americans have lost crucial Unemployment Insurance benefits. Today, nearly 21,000 citizens of nevada in my state have been cut off from Unemployment Benefits. And this is personal. As my colleague from new jersey talked about, for those who understand what it means to be unemployed, for those of us who understand the fact that people are putting in resume after resume, day after day, week after week and hits a person to their core being unemployed. And to add insult to injury, this congress failed to do its job. And so its unconscionable to assume that those who are looking for work are lazy or that they want to somehow stay unemployed. Mr. Speaker, the constituents that i have spoken to in my district at the work centers who continue to put their resume in, they want to be employed. But its one thing to have our colleagues on the other side believe that the government should not intervene in helping to close the gap between the rich and poor, but is absolutely wrong to cut critical social safety nets that have been in place for decades, regardless of party, in an effort to reduce spending while maintaining corporate subsidies and tax breaks for the very rich. D mr. Speaker, it is morally outrageous to target those who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own. But it is even worse to see this happen when we have millions of dollars in tax subsidies toll millionaires and major industry. What is more, the difference between the top and the bottom of the economic ladder is greater than ever before. And climbing this ladder is also becoming increasingly difficult. Recently, a harvard economist und that those found that those who are our parents and how much our parents earned are more consequential today than ever before. The doctor identified five key factors that are heavily correlated with economic mobility and income inequality. First, segregation. Second is inequality. Third is quality of our Public School systems. Fourth is social and civic engagement. And fifth is family structure. And for decades, lowincome workers have seen their wages frozen while the profits of the nations wealthiest americans have continued to explode. Now i have nothing against successful people. People who go out and put their ingenuity to work and entrepreneurship to work and become successful. But i also believe that its important for this congress to also focus on the needs of those who are part of the middle class d those who have fallen into poverty who want to be part of that middle class. It is time that congress acted to address the minimum wage crisis in our country. 7. 25, which is the federal minimum wage, is not a living wage in todays america. And we need to recognize that. We need to recognize that the fair minimum wage act of 2013, the bill thats been introduced by the House Democratic colleagues, representative George Miller of california and in the senate by senator tom harkin of iowa, is the type of commonsense legislation that a majority of americans expect this congress to focus on. Gradly increasing the federal gradually increasing the federal minimum wage from 7. 25 an hour 2016, in an hour by three 95cent installments, is the right economic step to take for our country and the people that we represent. 10. 10 is the inflation adjusted value of the minimum wage compared to what it was in the 1960s. Raising the tips minimum wage from 2. 13 to 7. 07. Lets talk about who these people are that we are fighting to increase the wage for. First, these are lowwage workers who will benefit from an increase in the minimum wage and more likely to work fulltime. 55 of those who are on minimum wage today work fulltime. 56 of those on minimum wage today, mr. Speaker, are women. And 80 are adults who are at least 20 years of age. But those are not the only groups that would benefit from the minimum wage. Increasing the minimum wage would also generate some 22 billion in Economic Activity and jobse an additional 85,000 nationwide, contrary to what republicans and some super pacs may want the American People to believe. Raising the minimum wage cre eighths jobs and lifts people out of poverty. It would raise 4. 6 million americans out of poverty and put average of 1 1,700 back to the pockets back to our lowestwaged workers. 39,000 people, 20 of our states children, would be directly or indirectly affected by an increase in the minimum wage. Raidsing the minimum wage would actually take pressure off of our government by allowing wages to be vr sustaining to help them provide for themselves and their families rather than relying on federal assistance to take care of themselves. These are the growing inaqualities that we are here to talk about, mr. Speaker. And one of the greatest threats to our nations future is this issue of growing income inequality. Our countrys greatness was built on the foundation of the worlds most prosperous middle class and on a society where those who worked hard had the opportunity to rise on that economic ladder of opportunity. From thenot become far truth over the last 30 years, but particularly during the recovery from the great recession. And before i turn the time back over to my colleague and engage in a little bit of backand forth. I would like to look at this graph, because it charts our countrys various recessions, depressions and our subsequent recovery. In the great depression, everyone suffered. It devastated everyone in the economy regardless of income. And in the following years when our economy started to grow again, all levels of income recovered at approximately the same rate that had declined. The top 1 s share of the recovery was only about 28 of the time. During the clinton expansion years, in the 1990s, it was an economic boon for all levels of income. And although the top 1 held 45 of that growth, it was still a shared economic prosperity. Moving ahead to the bush expansion after the 2001 recession, you can see more of the growth being concentrated in the top 1 at 65 . And when the recession of 2007 to 2009 came about, only 49 of the loss belonged to the 1 . Despite the Massive Gains that had accrued during the bush expansion. So this is not the type of Economic System that we want for our country where the wealthiest and the tinues to grow nations middle class shrinks and suffers. And thats what we are here to talk about tonight. I thank the gentleman from new york for yielding time. And i yield back. Mr. Jeffries i thank the distinguished gentleman from nevada for that very precise and comprehensive analysis that was given today on the house floor and there were several important point us that raised that id like to elaborate on and perhaps have a followup discussion. One of the issues that you discussed relates to the failure of the economic expansion, as well as the recoveries that have taken place, increasingly over the last several decades to benefit in any proportional way people in the middle class and those who aspire to be part of the middle class. And this has been a trend that weve seen for the last 30plus years, its been particularly pronounced in the five years or so since the economy collapsed in 2008. And when we look at the recovery, i mentioned earlier today that its a particularly schizophrenic, inconsistent one, because we know that the stock market is way up, corporate profits are way up, c. E. O. Compensation is way up, the productivity of the American Worker is way up. But middle class wage as remain stagnant. Now, why is that a problem . This chart illustrates the fact that essentially since 1950 the productivity of the American Worker, our ability as workers throughout this country to produce more in a more efficient fashion, costing less in time and resources has consistently increased, exponentially increased the productivity of the American Worker. But essentially over the last plus years or so, wages connected to that output of the American Worker have remained flat. So what does that mean . That essentially means that while the American Worker is far more efficient and effective in doing their job and being more productive, that the profits and the output generated by the american gone to the ot employees, its gone to the employer and a very small percentage of individuals. And so when we talk about income inequality, were not saying that we have a problem with success. Were saying everyone should benefit from the success that the American Worker has created. As opposed to just a small number of individuals. The socalled job creators, were thankful for their ingenuity and for their effort, but the reality is the productivity of the American Worker has increased yet the middle class has not benefited. , fact, between 1978 and 2001 c. E. O. Compensation has , c. E. O. 876 compensation. Between 1978 and 2001. And whats happened . As it relates to compensation for the average American Worker during that same time period, its increased 5. 4 . Thats a shameful difference, one that we should not tolerate in this great country. The other observation that my distinguished colleague made related to the fact that if we increase the minimum wage, it will not just benefit millions of americans by lifting them out of poverty, why in the world would we want a society where people work full time throughout an entire year, yet find themselves in poverty . That makes no sense. But increasing the minimum Wage Benefits the economy, as my colleague indicated, because it increases consumer demand, it increases an increase in consumer demand leads to Economic Growth. An increase in Economic Growth leads to additional job creation and everybody benefits. Its a commonsense solution. So let me now turn to my colleague from nevada for some parting thoughts and i appreciate as always your comprehensive analysis and observation. Mr. Horsford i appreciate yours. Just to reinforce the point you were making, this chart illustrates the very facts of the matter. Why is it ok that wall street profits are at record highs over the last three years, since 2009, at 720 , but its not ok to increase the minimum wage for millions upon millions of americans who are using that minimum wage job to provide for themselves and their family . Why is it ok that the Unemployment Rate is over 102 during this period but its not ok to increase the minimum wage for workers in this country . Hy is it ok that c. E. O. Pay is 185 times bigger than the average worker, according to the Economic Policy institute, but it is not ok to raise the nimum wage from 7. 25, incrementally, to 10. 10 in order to lift people out of poverty . And why is it ok that americans home equity has dropped 35 uring 2007 and 2009, thereby affecting the very income wealth that the majority of middle class americans did have , and yet not help to lift our economy by raising the minimum wage . These are the questions that we would like to pose to our friends and colleagues on the other side. These are the questions that the American Public expect this house of representatives to debate. And these are the issues that would really go to the crux of closing the income inequality and moving economic mobility forward in this country. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues on these and other measures. Weve introduced legislation to increase the minimum wage, to extends Unemployment Insurance benefits, to provide training to workers to move into highgrowth sectors. And to invest in our infrastructure to create the type of jobs that our country desperately needs. But we need our colleagues on the other side to work with us and our president to move these legislative proposals forward and to stop the continued obstructionism that has plagued this congress for far too long. I yield back the remainer time to my colleague. Mr. Jeffries i thank the remaining time to my colleague. Mr. Jeffries i thank my colleague. Income inequality is a threat to our economy and the integrity of our democracy and we must do Everything Possible to right this wrong in america. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. Under the speakers announced policy of january 3, 2013, the chair recognizes the gentlewoman from connecticut, ms. Delauro, for 30 minutes. Ms. Delauro first let me say thank you to my colleagues who are leaving the floor, for your great work on the issue of wage stagnation and the inability for upward mobility for people in this nation. And youve done a Great Service here tonight with laying out what the facts are and what we need to do is to be able to increase peoples income. And therefore give them the economic ability to take care of themselves and their families and have a road to economic security. So i thank you very, very much. I also want to say a thank you to my colleague from rhode island, congressman cicilline, who will join me in this 30minute special order for tonight. Tonight i want to talk about the severe and immoral cuts being made to antihunger and nutrition programs. And particularly the continuation of devastating Food Stamp Cuts being made in the proposed conference farm bill. Weve said here, food stamps, food stamps are an economic safety net. As written, the farm bill would force 850,000 households, 1. 7 million men, women, children, veterans, across america to go hungry. Even while wealthy agribusinesses continue to get generous crop subsidies. Lowincome seniors, workingpoor families with children and individuals with disabilities would be particularly impacted by the cruel cuts in this bill. Meanwhile, the conference has s cided to reopen the loophole that the house of representatives on a bipartisan way closed. And those loopholes, as they reopen them, will make sure that millionaires and billionaires are getting crop subsidies. One has to ask the question, who are we working for here . In effect, this is reverse robin hood legislation. It steals food from the poor to help pay crop subsidies to the rich. And when i see members supporting the immoral cuts in this legislation, mr. Speaker, i have to wonder if some people in this institution have really lost their perspective and understand why we are here and what our moral responsibility is. Across this country, this great country, nearly 50 million americans, including over 16 million children, are struggling with hunger right now. Think for a moment about what that means. In 1974 a writer in Time Magazine explained it this way and i quote, the victim of starvation burns up his own body fat, muscles and tissues for fuel. His body quite literally consumes itself and deteriorates rapidly. The kidneys, liver and often seize to function properly. A shortage of carbohydrates