WASHINGTON – Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) backed the bipartisan Higher Wages for American Workers Act, first introduced by Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Peter Welch (D-VT), to increase the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour and allow the federal minimum wage to increase with inflation in subsequent years. When adjusted for inflation, the current federal minimum wage is lower than at any point since the 1940s. Meanwhile, the cost of housing, healthcare, and education has skyrocketed, leaving millions of full-time workers struggling to make ends meet.
“American families are being crushed by the cost of housing, groceries, and gas, and $7.25 an hour doesn’t even come close to covering the basics. It’s long past time we raise the federal minimum wage to reflect today’s reality and give hardworking Americans a fair shot,” said Senator Gallego.
The Higher Wages for American Workers Act would:
- Increase the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour starting in January 2026.
- Require the federal minimum wage to increase with inflation in subsequent years.
Read the full bill HERE.
6/20/25