Bernie Sanders - The Ranking Member of the Senate HELP Committee | Official U.S. Senate headshot
Bernie Sanders - The Ranking Member of the Senate HELP Committee | Official U.S. Senate headshot
Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Bobby Scott have introduced the Raise the Wage Act, aiming to increase the minimum wage to $17 by 2030. This effort, backed by 175 lawmakers and 85 organizations, seeks to enhance wages for nearly 22 million Americans.
Sanders, who is the Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, along with Scott, the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Education and Workforce, propose to address wage disparities by eliminating subminimum wages within a few years.
Sanders recently called for a vote on this proposal within the Senate, with strong support from Democrats and opposition from most Republicans. According to the Economic Policy Institute, the legislation could affect over 22 million workers.
Sanders stated, "The $7.25 an hour minimum wage is a starvation wage. It must be raised to a living wage – at least $17 an hour,” emphasizing the urgency of raising wages to counteract poverty and inequality.
Scott added, “No person working full-time in America should be living in poverty. The Raise the Wage Act will increase the pay and standard of living for nearly 22 million workers across this country.”
The initiative follows several state-level decisions over the years, where voters in Missouri, Alaska, Nebraska, and Florida approved minimum wage increases. Inflation has eroded previous wage gains, and Sanders pointed out that the federal minimum wage has not kept pace with productivity increases.
The act's supporters include a broad coalition from both houses of Congress and organizations such as the Service Employees International Union and the AFL-CIO.
A press conference hosted by Sanders and Scott alongside wage workers is scheduled to discuss further details.
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