John, the federal minimum wage is just $7.25 per hour – and it has been that way since 2009.

Even 14 years ago, $7.25 was not enough to sustain a family. But now, after record-high inflation and significant loss in purchasing power, the federal minimum wage is worth 30% less today than it was in 2009.

Even if a single parent were to work 40 hours a week every week, $7.25 would come out to just $15,080 a year.

On average, American households spend $24,000 on housing a year – meaning that the federal minimum wage doesn’t even come close to covering housing. When we add in the costs of groceries (approx. $9,000 a year), gas (approx. $5,000 a year), and childcare (approx. $10,000 for one child a year), it becomes abundantly clear that no parent could ever make ends meet on $7.25 an hour without picking up a second, third or even fourth job.

John, there is no reason why, in the richest nation in the world, so many Americans are receiving what amounts to starvation wages. That’s why I’ve spent years fighting for a real living wage – and in California, according to the MIT Living Wage calculator, that wage would be more than $50 an hour for a single parent with two children.

John, understand this: No one in America deserves to work 40 hours a week and still not afford to put food on the table. As someone who was once on public assistance to support myself and my boys, I understand the struggle – and I know that hardworking Americans deserve infinitely more.

I have spent my entire career in politics fighting to expand economic opportunities to those who have been historically excluded, and I will not relent in my fight now.

I'm ready to bring my fight for a fair and livable minimum wage to the Senate, but I can only get there with your support.

Thank you,

Barbara Lee