SCHAKOWSKY CALLS FOR INCREASE IN MINIMUM WAGE. JOINS DEMOCRATS TO BRING LEGISLATION TO THE FLOOR
WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) today joined her Democratic colleagues in an effort to bring legislation to increase the minimum wage to the House floor. They announced a "Discharge Petition," which is a parliamentary tool that allows a majority of members to force a bill that is being bottled-up in committee onto the House floor for debate and consideration.
The bill would raise the minimum wage $1 over two years to $6.15 an hour. After passage, the bill would be held for 30 calendar days pending the passage of another bill to provide small business tax relief.
"At a time of unprecedented economic growth, hard working families need a raise. A single mother with two children working at the current minimum wage in my district earns just $10,700 per year -- $2,600 below the poverty line. This is just downright immoral," Schakowsky said.
"The Republicans in Congress passed an $800 billion tax giveaway that would greatly benefit the wealthiest Americans and large corporations. They should be ashamed for forgetting about the millions of Americans who work hard and play by the rules, but try to survive on $5.15 an hour. Those who have to take care of our children at daycare centers and our parents at nursing homes deserve better," Schakowsky added.
Sixty percent of minimum wage earners are women; nearly 75% are adults; 3/5 are the sole breadwinners in their families; and more than 50% work full-time.
"An increase in the minimum wage is an issue about fairness. Waiting any longer to increase it would be an injustice to hard working Americans," Schakowsky said.