WASHINGTON – Today, as Democratic House leadership begins to draft the economic rescue package, the Sunrise Movement demands Democrats include raising the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour in the relief bill.
“Democrats in the House have a clear choice ahead of them – do they use their power as an opportunity to stand with labor unions and working families struggling to get by in this pandemic, or do they crumble to the millionaire elites in Congress too out of touch to understand the needs of everyday Americans,” said Varshini Prakash, Executive Director of the Sunrise Movement. “Democrats have no moral option, but to raise wages for workers – especially for the young people, people of color, immigrant communities and front line workers who have been impacted by wage stagnation the most. We demand no compromise, no excuses, and we demand Democrats include a $15 minimum wage into the economic rescue package.”
The policy is backed by progressive groups, labor unions, civil rights organizations and President Biden. In fact, recent polling has shown that increasing the minimum wage from the current $7.25 an hour to $15 an hour is one of the most popular Democratic policies.