U.S. Representatives Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-Va.), Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and nearly 200 Democratic Members of Congress introduced legislation that would raise the federal minimum wage to $17 by 2028. Estimated to benefit nearly 28 million workers, or 19 percent of the working population, the Raise the Wage Act of 2023 would raise the federal minimum wage to $17 per hour over five years, eliminate the tipped sub-minimum wage over seven years, eliminate the sub-minimum wage for workers with disabilities over five years, and eliminate the sub-minimum wage for youth workers over seven years.
“I firmly believe no one working 40 hours a week should live in poverty. Fortunately, Maine has raised its state minimum wage, but it’s still estimated that you would need to work 72 hours a week at that wage to be able to afford rent for a two-bedroom – let alone at the federal minimum,” said Pingree. “It is plain disgraceful that in the wealthiest country on earth the federal minimum wage hasn’t been raised in 14 years, so I’m proud to support the Raise the Wage Act.”
“No person working full-time in America should be living in poverty,” said Scott, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. “The Raise the Wage Act will increase the pay and standard of living for nearly 28 million workers across this country. Raising the minimum wage is good for workers, good for business, and good for the economy. When we put money in the...
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