Pocan Statement Following House Passage of the Raise the Wage Act
"The Raise the Wage Act gives a well-deserved raise to nearly a quarter of the workforce and takes a step in the right direction to level the playing field."
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representative Mark Pocan (WI-02) today applauded the U.S. House of Representatives for passing H.R. 582, the Raise the Wage Act. The legislation would increase the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2025, raising wages for up to 33 million workers and lifting millions of Americans out of poverty. Pocan is one of the authors of the legislation and led his colleagues in introducing the bill earlier this year.
“Today the House of Representatives fulfilled a promise we made to the American people – to pass legislation that would raise wages for millions of workers. American workers are among the most productive in the world, but in most industries, wages have stagnated, while the share going to profits and the top 1% has soared,” said Pocan. “The Raise the Wage Act gives a well-deserved raise to nearly a quarter of the workforce and takes a step in the right direction to level the playing field. When workers have more money in their pockets, they have more money to spend to care for their families and stimulate our economy. Now that the House has acted, Senate Majority Leader McConnell should listen to American workers and bring this bill up for a vote.”
The Raise the Wage Act will:
- Increase wages for up to 33 million American workers, including 829,000 workers in Wisconsin;
- Lift 1.3 million Americans out of poverty, including 600,000 children, according to the CBO’s review of a similar proposal; and
- Help secure fairness and equality for women, giving nearly 20 million working women a raise, and helping narrow the gender wage gap that disproportionately impacts women of color.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.
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