Press Releases

Payne Salutes Increase in Minimum Wage to $6.55 an Hour
This is Second Step in Three-Step Minimum Wage Increase
Enacted by Congress In 2007

Washington, D.C. – On July 24, 2008, the federal minimum wage will rise from $5.85 to $6.55 an hour.  This is the result of legislation enacted by the new Democratic-led Congress in May 2007 – raising the minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 an hour over a two-year period.  

“This increase in the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour over two years will benefit 12.4 million workers across the country – both directly and indirectly --- including 129,000 workers in our state of New Jersey,” Congressman Payne, senior member of the House Education and Labor Committee, stated.

“For ten years, under a Republican-controlled Congress, the minimum wage was frozen at $5.15 an hour,” said Payne.  “This was the longest period in the history of the minimum wage law that minimum wage workers failed to get an increase.  As a result, minimum wage workers fell further and further behind.”

“Consumer costs – from gas prices to food to health care– all have skyrocketed at the same time that American families have seen their real income drop by almost $1,000 since 2001,” Payne pointed out.   “This pay raise for 12.4 million workers nationwide is long overdue.  It is wrong for millions of Americans to be working full-time and still living in poverty.”

The minimum wage legislation enacted by Congress in 2007 increases the minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 an hour, in three steps, over two years.  Under the legislation, the minimum wage was increased from $5.15 to $5.85 on July 24, 2007; will increase to $6.55 on July 24, 2008; and will increase to $7.25 on July 24, 2009.  The increase to $7.25 an hour will mean an additional $4,400 per year for a minimum wage worker’s family – helping them to try to keep up with rising costs.

“Raising the minimum wage is a key step in working to strengthen the economy for all Americans, not just for the privileged few,” said Payne.  “The increase in the minimum wage this month will make a real difference in the lives of millions of America’s working families.”