Does anyone really believe it is possible to make even the most basic ends meet on $5.15 an hour?

It is time this Congress listened to the American people and minimum-wage workers, and it is time that we act.

The U.S. Coast Guard is a shining example of how well a Federal agency can perform with its flexibility, speed, and expertise.

We have a VA hospital back home in St. Louis. Like many of our colleagues, we hear continued concerns about the access and the service. I have seen a statistic that more than 60,000 veterans today are waiting more than 6 months for an appointment at a VA hospital.

The Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act is an important authorization for our country and for our citizens, as we have seen so vividly in the last few weeks.

Americans are also feeling the effects of soaring energy prices at the gas pump. The double burden of these added expenses will be far too much for many families.

Does anyone really believe it is possible to make even the most basic ends meet on $5.15 an hour?