Congressman Cuellar Co-Sponsor's Bill To Increase Minimum Wage

CONGRESSMAN CUELLAR CO-SPONSORS BILL TO INCREASE MINIMUM WAGE

Today, Congress passed HR 2, a bill increasing the minimum wage, which was co-sponsored by Congressman Henry Cuellar. This bipartisan measure would increase the federal minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 an hour over two years and will affect as many as 13 million Americans.

"This bill is a pay raise for working families," noted Congressman Cuellar. "I was raised to believe that an honest day's work deserved an honest day's pay. This bill helps make that belief a reality."

The bipartisan bill raises the minimum wage to $5.85 sixty days after enactment; to $6.55 one year later; and to $7.25 one year after that. This would mean an additional $4,400 per year for a family of three, equaling 15 months of groceries, or over two years of health care - helping them to keep up with the rising cost of living.

Congressman Cuellar continued, "This bill rewards the hard work of countless Americans. It is unacceptable that today, we have millions of Americans working full-time and year-round and still living in poverty. At the current rate of $5.15 an hour, a full-time minimum wage worker brings home $10,712 a year -nearly $6,000 below the poverty level for a family of three. This bill will help lift countless millions of Americans out of poverty."

"As we move further into the 110th Congress, I also hope that we will be able to address assistance to small businesses. As a former small business owner myself, I understand the difficulties that these business face with rising costs," said Congressman Cuellar.

http://www.house.gov/list/press/tx28_cuellar/minumumage100hours.html