The House of Representatives voted on July 18 to raise the federal minimum wage. By a vote of 231-199, members passed the Raise the Wage Act, H.R. 582, legislation that would increase the federal minimum wage-now just $7.25 an hour-for the first time in 10 years. Under the act, the minimum wage would increase to $15 by 2025. A higher federal minimum wage would benefit numerous categories of workers, including many education support professionals, who provide important services to students, yet struggle to get by on what they earn. The legislation would help one-sixth of educators, according to studies, as well as one-fifth of construction workers, a quarter of health care workers, and nearly a third of manufacturing workers. Studies also show the legislation would reduce poverty and income inequality by raising the total annual income of the lowest-paid workers, and help close racial earnings gaps. Send an email urging your senators to cosponsor S. 150, the companion legislation in the Senate.
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