Sens. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., and Peter Welch, D-Vt., are pushing legislation that would hike the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour and provide for annual increases to account for inflation.
The proposal would implement a dramatic increase from the current $7.25 per hour federal minimum wage, which has been in place for more than 15 years.
"For decades, working Americans have seen their wages flatline. One major culprit of this is the failure of the federal minimum wage to keep up with the economic reality facing hardworking Americans every day. This bipartisan legislation would ensure that workers across America benefit from higher wages," Hawley said, according to press releases from both lawmakers.
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Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., questions Pam Bondi, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be attorney general, during her Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing in Hart building on Wednesday, January 15, 2025. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
The purchasing power of the U.S. dollar has eroded significantly over the years due to inflation.
Under the proposed legislation, the yearly increases to the initial $15 per hour federal minimum wage would be based on "the percentage increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (or a successor index), as published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics" and would be "rounded to the nearest multiple of $0.05, if the amount … is not a multiple of $0.05."
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"We’re in the midst of a severe affordability crisis, with families in red and blue states alike struggling to afford necessities like housing and groceries. A stagnant federal minimum wage only adds fuel to the fire. Every hardworking American deserves a living wage that helps put a roof over their head and food on the table–$7.25 an hour doesn’t even come close," Welch said, according to the releases.
"Times have changed, and working families deserve a wage that reflects today’s financial reality. I’m proud to lead this bipartisan effort to raise the minimum wage nationwide to help more folks make ends meet," the senator added.
In post on X, conservative commentator Dana Loesch decried the idea of raising the federal minimum wage, pushing back against Hawley's advocacy for the policy.
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"This is a horrible, progressive idea," Loesch asserted in the tweet.