Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) will introduce new legislation on Thursday to raise the federal minimum wage to $17.
According to a new report, Sanders will introduce the bill alongside various workers and union leaders, as well as AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler and SEIU International President Mary Kay.
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The Vermont senator has long advocated raising the minimum wage. In 2021, he fought to raise the wage to $15. However, the federal minimum wage remains at $7.25 per hour.
The United States Department of Labor reports that 29 states, as well as the District of Columbia, Guam, and the Virgin Islands, have minimum wages which are higher than $7.25.
Sanders previewed his plan to introduce this legislation in January. In an appearance on MSNBC, he called for the wage to be raised to $17, which his new bill would do.
"There are millions of workers in this country who are working literally on starvation wages, eight nine, ten bucks an hour," Sanders reportedly told Insider. "Two years ago, we proposed a $15 an hour minimum wage as a result of inflation. $15 is now the equivalent of $17."
According to the senator, "I think all over this country, you're seeing states on their own voting to raise the minimum wage." However, he noted that "We have not raised the minimum wage here in Congress."
Sanders recently reiterated his support for President Joe Biden in his reelection campaign for 2024. Sanders previously ran against Biden and admitted that they share several policy differences.
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But, he said, "When we live in a nation where you have a major political party — the Republican Party — where many, not all, but many of their leadership doesn't even believe in democracy. They maintain the myth that Trump won the last election."
"The choice is pretty clear," he said, adding that Biden is the choice.