Providing for Consideration of H. R. 5970, Estate Tax abd Extension of Tax Relief Act of2006

PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 5970, ESTATE TAX AND EXTENSION OF TAX RELIEF ACT OF 2006 -- (House of Representatives - July 28, 2006)

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Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague and gentleman from Washington for yielding me time, and I rise today in strong support of the rule and the underlying legislation.

First, I would like to thank our leadership for having the foresight and leadership to bring this excellent compromise before the House. I am delighted to have been part of the 48 Republicans that have pushed through letters and meetings and other methods to ask our leadership to bring a vote on the minimum wage to this floor.

I just heard a minute ago these words, ``just raise the minimum wage,'' well, guess what. That is what this bill does.

Let me be clear, with the passage of this legislation, we will raise the minimum wage over the next 3 years to $7.25. This is real relief for those workers who are trying to support a family on a minimum wage job, bringing it closer to a true living wage. I have supported raising the minimum wage for years, and I am glad to see that on this day this vote is coming to the floor.

I am also pleased that we are including death tax relief in this measure. Unlike some of my colleagues, I see this tax relief and minimum wage bill as complementary. The death tax is a punitive measure that unfairly burdens small business owners and farmers. The sustaining of small businesses by keeping their vital assets will allow those making the minimum wage to continue working and hopefully provide greater resources to bring them above the minimum wage.

This is a jobs bill, and I encourage all of my colleagues to support this step forward for workers and the businesses that employ them.

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