Dear John,
In the midst of a devastating pandemic and recession, the fight to raise the federal minimum wage is more urgent than ever. While the $7.25 federal minimum wage and $2.13 subminimum wage for tipped workers haven't budged in more than a decade, the cost of living has skyrocketed. This means the lowest-wage workers—who are disproportionately women of color, breadwinners for their families, and essential workers—have less money to pay for basic necessities such as food, housing, and health care. Boosting their pay would stimulate the U.S. economy and ensure a more equitable economic recovery.
LEARN: Women make up the majority of the workers who would benefit from raising the minimum wage, and nearly 19 million women would get a raise. Our new analysis finds that this includes 7 million women who are essential workers, currently working for poverty-level wages. Importantly, we found that 65 percent of mothers who would see higher pay are their family's primary or sole breadwinner.
Best,
Lily Roberts
Managing Director, Economic Policy
Center for American Progress
Follow @CAPWomen, @CAPEconomy, and @CAPPoverty for more.
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