The Final State of the Union
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Summary:
When it comes to raising the minimum wage, the numbers speak for themselves.
Since 2013, President Obama has been calling on Congress to raise the federal minimum wage. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, the minimum hourly wage an employer must pay an employee for work is currently $7.25. While Congress has not moved to increase the federal minimum wage, many states, cities, and business owners have heeded the President’s call to action by raising their minimum wages to well above the federal standard.
“To every mayor, governor, and state legislator in America, I say, you don’t have to wait for Congress to act; Americans will support you if you take this on.”
— President Obama
Since the President first asked Congress to #RaiseTheWage, 17 states have answered his call. Will your state be next?
“This year, more than half of our states guarantee their workers a wage higher than the federal minimum, but despite this progress we still have work to do. I continue to encourage states, cities, counties and companies to lift their workers' wages, and I urge Congress to finally do the right thing and give America a raise.”
— President Obama
When it comes to raising the minimum wage, the numbers speak for themselves:
$14,500
The amount a full-time minimum wage worker will earn in a year, assuming 50 weeks worked, which leaves too many families struggling to make ends meet.
35 million
The number of workers who would benefit if Congress passed the Raise the Wage Act.
(Source: EPI)
17
The number of states who have answered the President’s call to raise their minimum wage.
27
The number of cities and counties who have answered the President’s call to raise their minimum wage.
7 million
The number of workers who have benefited in those states that have answered the President’s call to #RaiseTheWage.
“Let’s declare that in the wealthiest nation on Earth, no one who works full-time should have to live in poverty, and raise the federal minimum wage”
— President Obama
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