Levin Marks Twelve Years Since Last Minimum Wage Increase

Statement

Congressman Andy Levin (MI-09), a member of the House Education & Labor Committee, released the following statement marking twelve years since the last federal minimum wage increase on July 24, 2009:

"This is the longest span of time without an increase since Congress established the minimum wage 83 years ago. Sadly, there is no place in America today where a full-time worker making the federal minimum wage can afford life's essentials.

As the cost of living rises, increasing the minimum wage is essential to raising the standard of living for working people in America. In order to truly build back better, we need a fifteen dollar per hour minimum wage at the very least -- with no more subminimum wages for tipped workers and others. I've been laser-focused on this effort since my first days in Congress and will continue to lead the fight proudly. I'm renewing the call for my colleagues in the Senate to pass the Raise the Wage Act to guarantee that every single person with a full-time job can support themselves and their family with dignity. Struggling families cannot afford to wait."

Rep. Levin is an original cosponsor of the Raise the Wage Act to increase the minimum wage gradually to $15 per hour by 2025 and eliminate a subminimum wage for tipped workers, disabled workers and young workers.

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