The Fair Minimum Wage Act (H.R. 1010)

It has been seven years since minimum wage workers saw an increase in their paycheck. Passed by a Democratic Congress in 2007, this increase gave as many as 13 million workers a much needed pay raise after a decade stuck at $5.15 per hour.  Despite this, the real value of the minimum wage today buys less than it did in 1956. In addition, workers who rely on tips haven’t seen an increase in their wages since 1991.  The required pay for tipped workers, excluding tips, has been stuck at a paltry $2.13 per hour for 21 years. And, the federal minimum wage doesn’t automatically rise with inflation.

It’s time to raise the minimum wage.

The Fair Minimum Wage Act (H.R. 1010) will increase the minimum wage in  three steps, from $7.25 to $10.10 per hour. The rate will then be indexed to inflation each year thereafter. In addition, the legislation will increase the required cash wage for tipped workers in annual 85 cent increases, from today’s $2.13 per hour until the tip credit reaches 70 percent of the regular minimum wage. 

Facts on the Fair Minimum Wage Act (pdf)*

*UPDATED: October 2014

MORE Facts on the Minimum Wage:

Economic Impacts

Personal Effects

• Individual Worker Stories

State-By-State Information

Supporters of the Fair Minimum Wage Act

Text of the Bill (pdf)

The New York Times:

• Editorial: The Campaign for A Bigger Paycheck (January 2014)

• Raising the Minimum Wage

National Economic Impact of Raising the Minimum Wage

Polls showing support for the minimum wage:

• Business for a Fair Minimum Wage (July 2014): 61 percent of small business owners with employees strongly favor raising the national minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10 and adjusting it to keep up with the cost of living in future years.

• Small Business Majority (3/6/14): Small Businesses Support Increasing the Minimum Wage to $10.10

• Wall Street Journal/ NBC (12/11/13): 63 percent of Americans support raising the minimum wage to $10.10 from the current $7.25 rate.

• Quinnipiac Poll (12/10/13): American voters support 69 - 27 percent, including 49 - 44 percent among Republicans, raising the minimum wage. No group is opposed.

• National Journal Poll (12/17/13):  71 percent of Americans support raising the minimum wage.

• ABC News/Washington Post poll (12/18/13): 66 percent of Americans support raising the minimum wage.

• 80% of Americans Support Raising Minimum Wage to $10.10 (July 2013)

Graphics:

• Increasing the minimum wage will create 85,000 jobs

• Increasing the minimum wage will give working families an extra $100 per week

Release announcing the legislation: "Joined By Business Leaders and Workers, Sen. Harkin, Rep. Miller Unveil Bill to Raise Minimum Wage to $10.10"

Rep. Miller's Prepared Remarks for Introduction of the Fair Minimum Wage Act

Research: Raising the Minimum Wage Helps the Economy and Families

• "Tipped Over the Edge; Gender Inequality in the Restaurant Industry” (pdf)

• “Minimum Wage Effects Across State Borders: Estimates Using Contiguous Counties” (pdf)

• “States with Minimum Wages above the Federal Level have had Faster Small Business and Retail Job Growth” (pdf)

• "From the Bottom Up" -- New York Times Editorial calling to raise the minimum to at least $10 per hour

• "40% of Americans Now Make Less Than 1968 Minimum Wage"

• "$9 Minimum Wage Is Not Enough to Help Working Families, Writes Sen. Harkin"

• Center for Economic and Policy Research: "Why Does the Minimum Wage Have No Discernible Effect on Employment?"

• Center for Economic and Policy Research: "Slow Progress for Fast-Food Workers"