Raise the Wage Act
Proposed United States law
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Raise the Wage Act is a proposed United States law that would increase the federal minimum wage to US$17.[3][4] Versions of the bill have been introduced in each United States Congress since 2017.
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| Long title | To provide for increases in the Federal minimum wage, and for other purposes. |
|---|---|
| Announced in | the 118th United States Congress |
| Number of co-sponsors | 168 |
| Legislative history | |
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Background
Federal Minimum Wage
The minimum wage in the United States is set by U.S. labor law and a range of state and local laws. The first federal minimum wage was created as part of the National Industrial Recovery Act of 1933, signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, but declared unconstitutional. In 1938 the Fair Labor Standards Act established it at $0.25 an hour ($5.19 in 2022 dollars). Its purchasing power peaked in 1968 at $1.60 ($13.46 in 2022 dollars).[1] The Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007 has set the minimum wage at $7.25 per hour since 2009. The real value of the federal minimum wage in 2022 dollars has decreased by 46% since its inflation-adjusted peak in February 1968.
Provisions
Minimum Wage Increases
The most recently introduced bill would gradually increase the minimum wage over the 5 years following the bill's passage and ultimately eliminate sub-minimum wages for tipped, disabled, and youth workers.[3] Additionally, once wages reach $17.00/hr, the minimum wage will be pegged to median wage growth so as to prevent the value of the minimum wage from decreasing.
| Effective Date | New Minimum Wage |
|---|---|
| The next year on January 1 | $9.50 |
| 1 year later | $11.00 |
| 2 years later | $12.50 |
| 3 years later | $14.00 |
| 4 years later | $15.50 |
| 5 years later | $17.00 |
| Effective Date | New Minimum Wage |
|---|---|
| The next year on January 1 | $5.00 |
| 1 year later | $7.50 |
| 2 years later | $10.00 |
| 3 years later | $12.50 |
| 4 years later | $15.50 |
| 5 years later | $17.00 |
| Effective Date | New Minimum Wage |
|---|---|
| The next year on January 1 | $6.00 |
| 1 year later | $8.00 |
| 2 years later | $10.00 |
| 3 years later | $12.00 |
| 4 years later | $13.50 |
| 5 years later | $15.00 |
| 6 years later | $17.00 |
| Effective Date | New Minimum Wage |
|---|---|
| The next year on January 1 | $6.00 |
| 1 year later | $7.75 |
| 2 years later | $9.50 |
| 3 years later | $11.25 |
| 4 years later | $13.50 |
| 5 years later | $13.00 |
| 6 years later | $16.50 |
| 7 years later | $17.00 |
Legislative history
As of April 18, 2024:
| Congress | Short title | Bill number(s) | Date introduced | Sponsor(s) | # of cosponsors | Latest status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 115th Congress | Raise the Wage Act | H.R. 15 | May 25, 2017 | Bobby Scott
(D-VA) |
171 | Died in committee |
| S. 1242 | May 25, 2017 | Bernie Sanders
(I-VT) |
31 | Died in committee | ||
| 116th Congress | Raise the Wage Act | H.R. 582 | January 16, 2019 | Bobby Scott
(D-VA) |
205 | Passed the House |
| S. 150 | January 16, 2019 | Bernie Sanders
(I-VT) |
32 | Died in committee | ||
| 117th Congress | Raise the Wage Act of 2021 | H.R. 603 | January 28, 2021 | Bobby Scott
(D-VA) |
202 | Died in committee |
| S. 53 | January 26, 2021 | Bernie Sanders
(I-VT) |
37 | Died in committee | ||
| 118th Congress | Raise the Wage Act of 2023 | H.R. 4889 | July 25, 2023 | Bobby Scott
(D-VA) |
172 | Referred to Committees of Jurisdiction |
| S. 2488 | July 25, 2023 | Bernie Sanders
(I-VT) |
31 | Referred to Committees of Jurisdiction | ||
| 119th Congress | Raise the Wage Act of 2025 | H.R. 2743 | April 8, 2025 | Bobby Scott
(D-VA) |
165 | Referred to Committees of Jurisdiction |
| S. 1332 | April 8, 2025 | Bernie Sanders
(I-VT) |
33 | Referred to Committees of Jurisdiction |
