Help Raise the Minimum Wage

In the past nine years, workers making the minimum wage haven’t gotten a single raise. Not one. And while the wage of $5.15 an hour has stayed the same, its value has dropped precipitously, putting workers further and further behind.

It’s long past time for Congress to help the millions of workers earning the minimum wage or close to it. Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) has introduced the Fair Minimum Wage Act, and you can help by signing on as a citizen co-sponsor of the bill.

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Raise the Minimum Wage

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

I want to be a citizen co-sponsor of Sen. Kennedy's bill to increase the minimum wage. No one who works full-time should have to raise their children in poverty.

The Fair Minimum Wage Act would increase the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour over two years. That means an additional $4,370 a year for someone making the minimum wage in a full-time job--enough to pay for nine months of rent, 18 months of heat and electricity or tuition at a community college.

The Fair Minimum Wage Act will directly help 7 million working families as soon as it goes into effect and indirectly help millions more as the rising tide lifts wages.

Every day the minimum wage stays the same, working families fall further and further behind. It's time to take action to stem the growing tide of poverty in America. I urge Congress to pass the Fair Minimum Wage Act.

Signed by:

Campaign Launched:
March 21, 2006


Background Information

In the past nine years, workers making the minimum wage haven’t gotten a single raise. Not one. And while the wage of $5.15 an hour has stayed the same, its value has dropped precipitously, putting workers further and further behind.
 
It’s long past time for Congress to help the millions of workers earning the minimum wage or close to it. Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) has introduced the Fair Minimum Wage Act.

Since 1997, Congress has voted eight pay raises for itself, but not one dime for workers making the minimum wage. The annual salary for members of Congress has gone up by $31,600 in that time, while a minimum wage employee working full-time earns just $10,700 a year.

Just this year, Congress gave itself a $3,100 raise. It’s time for Congress to stop working for itself and start working for America’s families.

The Fair Minimum Wage Act would raise the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour in three steps:

  • $5.85 60 days after enactment.
  • $6.55 one year later.
  • $7.25 one year after that.

Raising the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour would mean an additional $4,370 a year for a full-time worker, enought to pay an average of nine months of rent, pay 18 months of heat and electricity, or a full year’s tuition for a community college degree.

The increase would have an immediate, direct impact on more than 7 million workers and an indirect impact on millions more.

Right now, there are 37 million Americans—including 13 million children—living in poverty in America, and raising the minimum wage is the easiest thing we can do to stop the rising tide of poverty.

Please take action today and sign on to become a citizen co-sponsor of the Fair Minimum Wage Act.