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Statement

Moms Group Applauds the Introduction of the Raise the Wage Act of 2017

May 25, 2017
Workplace Justice

Lisa Lederer, 202-371-1996

The Bill Would Raise the Federal Minimum Wage to $15 Per Hour by 2024
WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.) along with Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.) and Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), introduced the Raise the Wage Act of 2017 –  legislation that would immediately increase the federal minimum wage to $9.25 per hour, increasing the minimum wage gradually until it reaches $15 per hour by the year 2024. The legislation would increase the tipped minimum wage for workers who have not seen a salary increase since 1991. The bill has 31 Senate co-sponsors and 152 co-sponsors in the House of Representatives.
 
Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, CEO of MomsRising, issued the following statement on the introduction of the Raise the Wage Act of 2017:
 
“MomsRising and its members strongly applaud the introduction of the Raise the Wage Act.  Raising the minimum wage is an important first step in bolstering family economic security and boosting the American economy. The Raise the Wage Act would provide much-needed raise to women in particular, who make up 56 percent of the minimum wage workforce nationwide, while increasing the financial stability of working parents and workers of color. Four out of every ten single working parents would receive a salary increase as a result of this legislation, meaning that nearly 23 million American families would see their incomes rise. The legislation would also raise tipped wage workers’ wages – who haven’t seen a salary increase since 1991.
 
“Experts agree – raising the minimum wage would do more than just lift up moms and families across the country – it would give the American economy a much-needed boost, injecting billions of dollars into direct consumer spending.
 
“Raising the minimum wage is good for women, good for moms, good for families and good for our nation’s economy. MomsRising’s more than 1 million members call on Congress to immediately consider this legislation and move quickly towards its passage.”
 

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MomsRising.org is an on-the-ground and online grassroots organization of more than a million people who are working to increase family economic security, decrease discrimination against women and moms, and to build a nation where businesses and families can thrive. Established in 2006, MomsRising and its members are organizing and speaking out to improve public policy and to change the national dialogue on issues that are critically important to America’s families, including criminal justice reform, immigration policy reform, and gun safety. MomsRising is working for paid family and medical leave, affordable, high quality childcare and early learning, and for an end to the wage and hiring discrimination which penalizes women — particularly moms and women of color — and so many others. MomsRising advocates for access to healthy food for all kids, health care for all, earned sick days, and breastfeeding rights so that all children can have a healthy start. MomsRising maintains a Spanish language website: MamásConPoder.org. Sign up online at www.MomsRising.org — and follow us on our blog, and on Twitter and Facebook.