The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour, which will benefit millions of low-wage workers across the country.
On Thursday, the House voted 231-199 for the passage of the Raise the Wage Act, which will gradually increase the current federal minimum wage of $7.25 to $15 per hour by October 2025.
The legislation will then index future increases in the federal minimum wage to median wage growth. In addition, it will phase out the sub-minimum pay for tipped workers and teen worker to ensure that they receive at least the full federal minimum wage.
Furthermore, the Raise the Wage Act eliminates the sub-minimum wage certificates for workers with disabilities, giving them the opportunity to be competitively employed and fully participate in their communities.
Raising the federal minimum wage is a victory for workers
According to the Economic Policy Institute (EPI), around 33.5 million workers across the country will benefit from the legislation. By 2025, low-wage workers will see their wages increase by $2,800 annually.
