U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., has joined Sens. Patty Murray, D-Wash., and Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, in introducing legislation that would raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour.
Eighteen Senate Democrats have signed onto the bill, which would raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2024 and would be indexed to the median wage growth thereafter, according to a press release from Cantwell’s office.
The federal minimum wage has not increased since 2009.
“Washington state has been a leader in putting workers first — including raising the minimum wage,” Cantwell said in the release. “Washington has the nation’s highest minimum wage at $11 and is one of the fastest growing economies in the country. Our state is proof we can grow our economy and provide Americans a living wage.”
Cantwell said it is time for Congress to raise the national minimum wage, putting workers before corporations.
“I’m proud to join Sen. Sanders and Sen. Murray in being a voice for working families,” Cantwell said.
The legislation would give more than 41 million low-wage workers a raise, increasing the wages of almost 30 percent of the nation’s workforce. A $15 minimum wage by 2024 would generate $144 billion in higher wages for workers, benefiting their local economies, according to the release.
The bill would gradually eliminate the loophole that allows tipped workers and workers with disabilities to be paid less than the federal minimum wage. It would also phase out the youth minimum wage, which allows employers to pay workers under 20 years old a lower wage for the first 90 calendar days of work.
The bill will soon be introduced in the Senate.
