Pomeroy Votes To Raise Federal Minimum Wage

Pomeroy Votes To Raise Federal Minimum Wage

Congressman Earl Pomeroy today voted in favor of increasing the federal minimum wage from the current $5.15 an hour to $7.25 an hour. The Fair Wage Act overwhelming passed the House by a vote of 315-116. For the 21,000 minimum wage workers in North Dakota this bill means a pay raise. An additional 48,000 workers in North Dakota would indirectly see pay gains because of the House vote today.

"Increasing the minimum wage will have a tremendous impact on the lives of the tens of thousands of North Dakotans who will immediately see their pay increase if this important bill becomes law," Congressman Pomeroy said. "It's been over a decade since the minimum wage has been increased, and in that time inflation has risen while wages have stayed stagnant. North Dakota workers who put in a fair day's work deserve a fair day's pay, and the vote in the House today got us one step closer to that."

The minimum wage hasn't increased in over 10 years while inflation has continued to rise. This means that the purchasing power of the minimum wage has hit its lowest level in over 50 years. Under The Fair Wage Act, which passed the House today, the minimum wage will gradually be increased to $7.25 an hour over the next two years.

Eight in 10 of the workers who will receive increases in their wages as a result of this bill are young adults in their 20s, one-third are married and over one quarter are parents.

http://www.pomeroy.house.gov/index.asp?Type=B_PR&SEC={B4DAD0D5-78E8-4345-97DC-26B1A667D639}&DE={0D895D4E-D722-4F97-9724-AA004158A4B1}