Raise the Wage Act

The Raise the Wage Act is a proposed United States law that would increase the federal minimum wage to US$17.^[3][4] Versions of the bill have been introduced in each United States Congress since 2017.

Raise the Wage Act of 2023

Long title	To provide for increases in the Federal minimum wage, and for other purposes.
Announced in	the 118th United States Congress
Number of co-sponsors	168
Legislative history
Introduced in the House of Representatives as H.R.4889 by Bobby Scott (D–VA) on June 25, 2023 Committee consideration by House Committee on Education and Labor

History of the US federal minimum wage. Lower line is nominal dollars. Top line is inflation-adjusted.^[1][2]

Background

Federal Minimum Wage

The minimum wage in the United States is set by U.S. labor law and a range of state and local laws. The first federal minimum wage was created as part of the National Industrial Recovery Act of 1933, signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, but declared unconstitutional. In 1938 the Fair Labor Standards Act established it at $0.25 an hour ($5.19 in 2022 dollars). Its purchasing power peaked in 1968 at $1.60 ($13.46 in 2022 dollars).^[1] The Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007 has set the minimum wage at $7.25 per hour since 2009. The real value of the federal minimum wage in 2022 dollars has decreased by 46% since its inflation-adjusted peak in February 1968.

Provisions

Minimum Wage Increases

The most recently introduced bill would gradually increase the minimum wage over the 5 years following the bill's passage and ultimately eliminate sub-minimum wages for tipped, disabled, and youth workers.^[3] Additionally, once wages reach $17.00/hr, the minimum wage will be pegged to median wage growth so as to prevent the value of the minimum wage from decreasing.

Regular Employees

Effective Date	New Minimum Wage
The next year on January 1	$9.50
1 year later	$11.00
2 years later	$12.50
3 years later	$14.00
4 years later	$15.50
5 years later	$17.00

Employees with Disabilities

Effective Date	New Minimum Wage
The next year on January 1	$5.00
1 year later	$7.50
2 years later	$10.00
3 years later	$12.50
4 years later	$15.50
5 years later	$17.00

Tipped Employees

Effective Date	New Minimum Wage
The next year on January 1	$6.00
1 year later	$8.00
2 years later	$10.00
3 years later	$12.00
4 years later	$13.50
5 years later	$15.00
6 years later	$17.00

Employees Under 20 Years Old

Effective Date	New Minimum Wage
The next year on January 1	$6.00
1 year later	$7.75
2 years later	$9.50
3 years later	$11.25
4 years later	$13.50
5 years later	$13.00
6 years later	$16.50
7 years later	$17.00

Legislative history

As of April 18, 2024:

Congress	Short title	Bill number(s)	Date introduced	Sponsor(s)	# of cosponsors	Latest status
115th Congress	Raise the Wage Act	H.R. 15	May 25, 2017	Bobby Scott (D-VA)	171	Died in committee
		S. 1242	May 25, 2017	Bernie Sanders (I-VT)	31	Died in committee
116th Congress	Raise the Wage Act	H.R. 582	January 16, 2019	Bobby Scott (D-VA)	205	Passed the House
		S. 150	January 16, 2019	Bernie Sanders (I-VT)	32	Died in committee
117th Congress	Raise the Wage Act of 2021	H.R. 603	January 28, 2021	Bobby Scott (D-VA)	202	Died in committee
		S. 53	January 26, 2021	Bernie Sanders (I-VT)	37	Died in committee
118th Congress	Raise the Wage Act of 2023	H.R.4889	July 25, 2023	Bobby Scott (D-VA)	172	Referred to Committees of Jurisdiction
		S.2488	July 25, 2023	Bernie Sanders (I-VT)	31	Referred to Committees of Jurisdiction

See also

• List of bills in the 115th United States Congress
• List of bills in the 116th United States Congress
• List of bills in the 117th United States Congress
• List of bills in the 118th United States Congress
• Minimum wage