Congressman Tim Ryan Votes to Increase Federal Minimum Wage

Statement

Congressman Tim Ryan (OH-13) today voted to pass the Raise the Wage Act which would gradually increase the federal minimum wage to $15 by 2025. According to an independent economic analysis, the bill would increase pay for up to 33 million American workers, including 128,800 workers in Ohio's 13 Congressional District. The Raise the Wage Act would also lift 1.3 million Americans out of poverty. The House passed the bill with a 231-199 vote.

Congressman Tim Ryan also voted in favor of an amendment that would require the Government Accountability Office, in consultation with specified experts, to submit a report to Congress on the economic and employment impacts (nationally, regionally, and locally) of the four minimum wage increases in the bill (standard, tipped, youth, and 14(C)) with the report to be prepared after the second wage increase and before the third wage increase.

"Hard-working families have gone without an increase in the federal minimum wage for more than a decade -- the longest stretch in history. Too many Americans are working multiple jobs to make ends meet, 40% cannot withstand a $400 medical emergency, and nearly 80% are living paycheck to paycheck. No person should have to live like this in the richest country in the world," said Congressman Ryan. "Today, the House is keeping it's promise to the American people by passing landmark legislation to raise the minimum wage and increase pay for 33 million American workers, including nearly 130,000 workers in Northeast Ohio. It's long overdue, and a much needed first step. But we shouldn't stop here, we need to keep fighting for jobs that pay $30, $40 and $50 an hour."

The Raise the Wage Act of 2019 would:

Gradually raise the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $15 over the next six years, lifting millions of workers out of poverty, stimulating local economies, and restoring the value of minimum wage;
Index future increases in the federal minimum wage to median wage growth to ensure the value of minimum wage does not once again erode over time;
Guarantee tipped workers, youth workers, and workers with disabilities are paid at least the full federal minimum wage by phasing out the sub-minimum wages that allow these workers to be paid below $7.25 an hour.

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