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.