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Legislative bills

Senator Josh Hawley Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Raise Federal Minimum Wage

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Senator Josh Hawley, a key ally of President Donald Trump, is teaming up with Democrats to introduce legislation that aims to more than double the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour. Hawley's bipartisan bill, the "Higher Wages for American Workers Act," has been introduced in the Senate, with Vermont's Democratic Senator Peter Welch as a co-sponsor. The legislation would raise the minimum wage in 38 states starting in 2026 and adjust for inflation in subsequent years. Hawley's office emphasized the need for a higher minimum wage, citing the failure of the federal minimum wage to keep up with economic reality and the resulting stagnation of working Americans' wages.

Key Takeaways:

  • Hawley's "Higher Wages for American Workers Act" aims to raise the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $15 per hour, with a gradual increase starting in 2026 and adjustments for inflation in subsequent years.
  • The bill would benefit workers in 38 states, where the minimum wage would be increased to match the federal rate, with the remaining states already having higher minimum wages ranging from $8.75 to $17.50.
  • Hawley's office stated that working Americans have seen their wages flatline due to the failure of the federal minimum wage to keep up with economic reality, and that this bipartisan legislation would ensure that workers across America benefit from higher wages.
  • This move pits Hawley against his fellow Republicans, who have long opposed federal minimum wage increases due to concerns about increased costs for businesses.
  • Despite Trump's earlier rescission of a Biden-era executive order requiring federal contractors to be paid at least $17.75 per hour, Hawley's bill marks a significant shift in his approach to addressing economic issues affecting working-class voters.

Statistics:

  • The current federal minimum wage is $7.25.
  • Hawley's proposed minimum wage of $15 per hour is higher than the current minimum wage and the minimum wages in many states.
  • The "Higher Wages for American Workers Act" would raise the minimum wage in 38 states starting in 2026, benefiting workers in those states.
  • The remaining 12 states already have higher minimum wages ranging from $8.75 to $17.50 per hour.
  • The federal minimum wage has been in effect at $7.25 per hour since 2009.

Sources:

  • "Sen. Josh Hawley to introduce legislation to raise federal minimum wage," CBS News, (https://www.cbsnews.com/news/josh-hawley-raise-federal-minimum-wage/)
  • "Vermont's Peter Welch joins Sen. Josh Hawley in raising federal minimum wage to $15," (https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/mw-consolidated#4)
  • "Progressives won't accept a loss on $15 minimum wage," The Daily Beast, (https://www.thedailybeast.com/progressives-wont-accept-a-loss-on-dollar15-minimum-wage/)
  • "Trump team swears it's only cutting Medicaid for people who don't deserve it," The Daily Beast, (https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-team-swears-its-only-cutting-medicaid-for-people-who-dont-deserve-it/)
  • "Hawley-Sanders Introduce Bill to Curb Exploitative Credit Card Interest Rates, Provide Relief to Working Americans," Hawley.Senate.gov, (https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-sanders-introduce-bill-to-curb-exploitative-credit-card-interest-rates-provide-relief-to-working-americans/)

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