Rep. Stevens Applauds House Passage of the Raise the Wage Act

Statement

Today, Congresswoman Haley Stevens (MI-11) made the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 582, the Raise the Wage Act. Congresswoman Stevens cosponsored the Raise the Wage Act, which would gradually increase the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2024, and voted to advance the bill through the House Committee on Education and Labor. According to the Economic Policy Institute, nearly 1 in 4 workers in Michigan's 11th District would receive a wage increase if the Raise the Wage Act was enacted into law.

"The long-overdue Raise the Wage Act is a key part of our middle class agenda for Michigan," said Congresswoman Stevens. "We are living through the longest period in American history without a federal minimum wage increase, and middle-class families in Michigan are struggling to get ahead. In addition to raising the minimum wage, we must continue expanding access to skills training and implementing robust worker protections -- backed up by a strong labor movement -- to ensure that every Michigander has a path to a successful career and a job that pays a living wage. The Raise the Wage Act is good for workers, good for businesses, good for our economy, and it is in line with what Michiganders want."

Congresswoman Stevens voted for an amendment to the Raise the Wage Act that would require the Government Accountability Office to examine the economic and employment impacts after the minimum wage is raised to $9.50, and submit a report to Congress. The amendment would also require Congress to assess the report's findings and take any appropriate legislative action.

The Raise the Wage Act would:

* Gradually raise the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $15 over the next six years to lift millions of workers out of poverty, stimulate local economies, and restore the value of the minimum wage;

* Index future increases in the federal minimum wage to median wage growth to ensure the value of the minimum wage does not once again erode over time;

* Guarantees tipped workers are paid at least the full federal minimum wage by repealing the subminimum wage for tipped workers, which will ensure consistent, livable pay;

* Guarantees teen workers are paid at least the full federal minimum wage by repealing the rarely used subminimum wage for youth workers; and

* End subminimum wage certificates for individuals with disabilities to provide opportunities for individuals with disabilities to be competitively employed, taxpaying citizens and participate more fully in their communities.

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