II

104TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION S. 203

To amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to increase the Federal

minimum wage, to establish a Commission to conduct a study on the

indexation of the Federal minimum wage, and for other purposes.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

JANUARY 11 (legislative day, JANUARY 10), 1995

Mr. KENNEDY (for himself and Mr. WELLSTONE) introduced the following

bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Labor and

Human Resources

A BILL

To amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to increase

the Federal minimum wage, to establish a Commission

to conduct a study on the indexation of the Federal

minimum wage, and for other purposes.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘American Family Fair

5 Minimum Wage Act of 1995’’.
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1 SEC. 2. MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE.

2 Paragraph (1) of section 6(a) of the Fair Labor

3 Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 206(a)(1)) is amended

4 to read as follows:

5 ‘‘(1) except as otherwise provided in this section

6 not less than—

7 ‘‘(A) $4.25 an hour during the period end8 ing on August 31, 1995;

9 ‘‘(B) $4.75 an hour during the year begin10 ning on September 1, 1995;

11 ‘‘(C) $5.25 an hour during the year begin12 ning September 1, 1996; and

13 ‘‘(D) $5.75 an hour during the year begin14 ning September 1, 1997;’’.

15 SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION ON THE MINI16 MUM WAGE.

17 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established a com18 mission to be known as the Commission on the Minimum

19 Wage (hereafter in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Commis20 sion’’).

21 (b) MEMBERSHIP.—The Commission shall be com22 posed of 9 members to be appointed not later than 180

23 days after the date of enactment of this Act as follows:

24 (1) Three members shall be appointed by the

25 Secretary of Labor.
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1 (2) Three members shall be appointed by the

2 Secretary of Commerce.

3 (3) Three members shall be appointed by the

4 Secretary of Health and Human Services.

5 (c) DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.—

6 (1) STUDY.—The Commission shall conduct a

7 study of, and make recommendations to Congress

8 on—

9 (A) means to restore the minimum wage to

10 the level relative to the average hourly wage

11 that existed when the Congress adjusted the

12 minimum wage during the period 1950 through

13 1980; and

14 (B) means to maintain such level with

15 minimum disruption to the general economy

16 through regular and periodic adjustments to the

17 minimum wage rate.

18 (2) REPORT.—Not later than September 1,

19 1997, the Commission shall prepare and submit a

20 report to the appropriate committees of Congress

21 that shall include the findings of the Commission

22 and the recommendations described in paragraph

23 (1).

24 (d) COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS.—
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1 (1) PAY.—The members of the Commission

2 shall serve without compensation.

3 (2) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—The members of the

4 Commission shall be allowed travel expenses, includ5 ing per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates author6 ized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of

7 chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while

8 away from their homes or regular places of business

9 in the performance of services for the Commission.

10 (e) TERMINATION OF THE COMMISSION.—The Com11 mission shall terminate 30 days after the date on which

12 the Commissions submits the report under subsection

13 (c)(2).

14 (f) APPLICABILITY OF THE FEDERAL ADVISORY

15 COMMITTEE ACT.—Except as provided in subsections (d)

16 and (e), the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee

17 Act shall apply to the Commission.

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