Rep. Dean Phillips (MN-03) today voted in favor of H.R. 582, the Raise the Wage Act, which passed the House by a vote of 233 to 199. The bill increases the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour gradually over seven years. It also includes a requirement, supported by Phillips, that the Government Accountability Office continue to monitor the impacts of the rising minimum wage, ensuring accountability for Congress and transparency for the American people.
“After Congress failed to act on wages for nearly a decade, I’m proud to be a part of the 116th Congress that is again taking meaningful action to help people who are struggling to get by,” said Phillips. “This bill would ensure that, as we move from $7.25 to $15 per hour, we remain vigilant in observing the impacts on our economy, on workers, and on small businesses. It also included a longer phase-in than originally proposed. For those reasons, I voted yes. Still, the legislation before us today was not perfect. I will continue to work with my colleagues to ensure any bill that ultimately becomes law is good for both workers and small businesses here and across the country.”
The Raise the Wage Act would deliver a long-overdue pay-raise to millions of working families who are currently experiencing the longest period in history without an increase in the federal minimum wage. As with nearly every other major piece of legislation passed by the House in this Congress, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has vowed to block a vote in the Senate.
