This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (March 2021) |
The Raise the Wage Act is a proposed United States law that would increase the federal minimum wage to US$15.[3][4] It has been introduced in each United States Congress since 2017.
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| Long title | To provide for increases in the Federal minimum wage, and for other purposes. |
|---|---|
| Announced in | the 118th United States Congress |
| Number of co-sponsors | 168 |
| Legislative history | |
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Background
editFederal Minimum Wage
editThe minimum wage in the United States is set by U.S. labor law and a range of state and local laws. The first federal minimum wage was created as part of the National Industrial Recovery Act of 1933, signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, but declared unconstitutional. In 1938 the Fair Labor Standards Act established it at $0.25 an hour ($5.19 in 2022 dollars). Its purchasing power peaked in 1968 at $1.60 ($13.46 in 2022 dollars).[1] The Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007 has set the minimum wage at $7.25 per hour since 2009. The real value of the federal minimum wage in 2022 dollars has decreased by 46% since its inflation-adjusted peak in February 1968.
Provisions
editMinimum Wage Increases
editThe most recently introduced bill would gradually increase the minimum wage over the next 5 years as follows:[5]
| Effective Date | New Minimum Wage |
|---|---|
| The next year on January 1 | $9.50 |
| 1 year later | $11.00 |
| 2 years later | $12.50 |
| 3 years later | $14.00 |
| 4 years later | $15.00 |
| Effective Date | New Minimum Wage |
|---|---|
| The next year on January 1 | $5.00 |
| 1 year later | $7.50 |
| 2 years later | $10.00 |
| 3 years later | $12.50 |
| 4 years later | $15.00 |
Tipped Employees
editThe bill raises the minimum wage to $4.95 an hour for tipped employees and their employers.[5]
New Employees that are 20 years old or less
editThe bill raises the minimum wage to $6.00 an hour for newly hired employees who are 20 years older or less.[5]
Legislative history
editAs of April 18, 2024:
| Congress | Short title | Bill number(s) | Date introduced | Sponsor(s) | # of cosponsors | Latest status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 115th Congress | Raise the Wage Act | H.R. 15 | May 25, 2017 | Bobby Scott
(D-VA) |
171 | Died in committee |
| S. 1242 | May 25, 2017 | Bernie Sanders
(D-VT) |
31 | Died in committee | ||
| 116th Congress | Raise the Wage Act | H.R. 582 | January 16, 2019 | Bobby Scott
(D-VA) |
205 | Passed the House |
| S. 150 | January 16, 2019 | Bernie Sanders
(D-VT) |
32 | Died in committee | ||
| 117th Congress | Raise the Wage Act of 2021 | H.R. 603 | January 28, 2021 | Bobby Scott
(D-VA) |
202 | Died in committee |
| S. 53 | January 26, 2021 | Bernie Sanders
(D-VT) |
37 | Died in committee | ||
| 118th Congress | Raise the Wage Act of 2023 | H.R.4889 | July 25, 2023 | Bobby Scott
(D-VA) |
170 | Referred to Committees of Jurisdiction |
| S.2488 | July 25, 2023 | Bernie Sanders
(D-VT) |
31 | Referred to Committees of Jurisdiction |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Congressional Research Service (March 2, 2023). "State Minimum Wages: An Overview". Chart on page 3.
- ^ FRED Graph. Using U.S. Department of Labor data. Federal Minimum Hourly Wage for Nonfarm Workers for the United States. Inflation adjusted (by FRED) via the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: All Items in U.S. City Average (CPIAUCSL). Run cursor over graph to see nominal and real minimum wages pop up for specific months.
- ^ "The Raise the Wage Act, Explained". Indivisible. May 10, 2019. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
- ^ "Minimum wage fight: 'There's no recovery without raising it'". BBC News. March 26, 2021. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
- ^ a b c "Text - H.R.603 - 117th Congress (2021-2022): Raise the Wage Act of 2021". www.congress.gov. January 28, 2021. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
External links
edit
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