The US House of Representatives on Thursday voted 231-199 to approve a bill that could increase the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour.
HR 582 (or the “Raise the Wage Act”) is set-up to gradually increase the minimum wage until 2025, when the $15 minimum would be achieved. Tipped workers, new hires younger than 20 years old and individuals with disabilities would each have schemes to increase their minimum wage.
Congress has not increased the federal minimum wage since 2009, when it was raised to $7.25 per hour. Seven states have passed local legislation to achieve a $15 per hour minimum wage despite federal inaction.
