DeLauro: Time to Respect Work and Give Minimum Wage Workers a Raise

Renews Push for Increased Wages with the "Fair MinimumWage Act"

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT)renewed her push for increased wages by cosponsoring the Fair Minimum WageAct. The bill would raise the minimum wage to $10.10 over the next threeyears, hike the tipped minimum wage, and tie future annual increases to therate of inflation.

"Having an unconscionably low minimum wage hurts millions ofAmericans, particularly women, who are nearly two out of three workers makingthe minimum wage, and their families who suffer the economic consequences. Butthe low minimum wage is not just bad for workers; it is bad for business, andthe entire economy. Low wages limit consumer demand, which stalls our country'seconomic growth and hurts everyone. By contrast, passing the Fair MinimumWage Act would mean a raise for 21 million workers, roughly 140,000 newjobs and boosts our country's growth by $33 billion."

For four years, the federal minimum wage has remainedstagnant and lost value, failing to keep up with the cost of living and leavingworking families to rely on government aid to make ends meet. With incomeinequality and productivity on the rise, it is long past time to give minimumwage workers a pay raise.

A $10.10 minimum wage is a necessary step forward tobuilding stronger families and workers. Enacting this legislation willincrease pay for as many as 30 million Americans and offer tipped workers theirfirst pay hike since 1991. With the real value of the minimum wage athistoric lows, this measure will increase consumer spending and is vital tobuilding a stronger economy. As a Fiscal Policy Institute study found,states with higher minimum wages have "consistently better" economic indicatorsthan others.

Raising the minimum wage is a critical issue for millions ofAmerica's women. As more than 64 percent of minimum wage workers arewomen, it would offer a much-needed boost to America's working women.

Indexing the minimum wage to inflation is critical to takingpartisan politics out of this debate. With passage of this bill, thepurchasing power of minimum wage earners would no longer be held hostage topartisanship in Congress or powerful special interests.