Congressman David Cicilline on House Passage of 'Raise the Wage Act,' $15/hour Minimum Wage

Leslie is rejoined by Congressman David Cicilline, Chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee, and a member of the House Judiciary Committee.

The two discuss the House of Representatives' passage of the 'Raise the Wage Act,' which would gradually increase the minimum wage to $15 in 2025, automatically update it every year after that, and phase out the subminimum wage for tipped workers.

Congressman Cicilline has been fighting to pass the 'Raise the Wage Act' since he got to Congress, but with a Republican majority, it was never even brought up for a vote. "House Democrats remember the promise they made to Americans last year to get Washington working For The People again by raising family wages, lowering health care costs, and fighting back against corruption. Passing the 'Raise the Wage Act' does just that," said Rep. Cicilline.

According to the Economic Policy Institute, this critical policy would lift wages for more than 33 million workers, 90 percent of them age 20 or older and 58 percent of them women. It would increase the total annual wages of these low-wage workers by $92.5 billion, boosting annual earnings for the average affected year-round worker by $2,800. It would reduce inequality and, according to the Congressional Budget Office, pull 1.3 million people out of poverty, nearly half of them children.

The real (inflation-adjusted) minimum wage is now roughly 30 percent lower than it was in 1968, and it has been more than 10 years since congress raised the minimum wage—the longest stretch in history.

Congressman Cicilline, joined by his fellow House Democrats, are now calling on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to bring the bill up for a vote in the Senate. He has refused. So they are now calling on all Americans to call their Senator's office, and Senator McConnell's office, to encourage them to bring the bill up for a vote.

You can find your Senator's phone number here. The phone number for Senator McConnell's office is (202) 224-2541.

Congressman Cicilline's Twitter handle is @DavidCicilline and his website is Cicilline.House.Gov.

Rep. Cicilline is also a leader in Congress on issues of core American values, serving as Chairman of the House Antitrust Subcommittee, Co-Chair of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus, and Vice Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.