Schakowsky Votes To Raise the Federal Minimum Wage

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, a Senior Chief Deputy Whip, today voted to raise the national minimum wage to $15. After more than a decade without an increase in the federal minimum wage, the longest stretch in U.S. history, workers earning the federal minimum wage have suffered an almost 20 percent pay cut due to inflation. There is no place in America today where a full-time worker making the federal minimum wage can afford the basic essentials.

"There is no reason that someone who works 40 hours a week should have to struggle to make ends meet. American taxpayers are subsidizing many of these corporations, while their workers are turning around and having to apply for food stamps and pay for their own health care," said Congresswoman Schakowsky. "The rich got their raises when the GOP passed President Trump's Tax Scam. Now it's time to make sure that all workers are paid a better wage. Today's bill will help raise 1.3 million Americans out of poverty. In fact, since Chicago increased its minimum wage in 2014 to $13 an hour, it has produced higher incomes for at least 330,000 low-wage workers while having no negative impact on the growth of new businesses or overall employment."

The Raise The Wage Act passed the House by a vote of 231-199 could increase wages for up to 33 million American workers, according to independent economic analysis from the Economic Policy Institute. Even the CBO's more cautious estimate of a similar proposal indicated as many as 27 million workers would see a wage increase. It also helps secure fairness and equality for women, giving nearly 20 million working women a raise, and helping narrow the gender wage gap that disproportionately impacts women of color.