87R6360 CW-D
 
  By: Reynolds H.C.R. No. 21
 
 
 
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 13 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, 29 states
  have set their minimum wage higher than the federal minimum wage,
  though not at the level of a living wage; 14 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, several companies, including Amazon, Walmart, and
  Target, 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 87th 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.