Federal government negotiation on new minimum wage

The federal government in the United States has been negotiating on a new minimum wage for several years. Here's an update on the current state of negotiations:

Background:

The federal minimum wage has been stuck at $7.25 per hour since 2009, when it was last increased. Many experts and advocates argue that this wage is not enough to support a decent standard of living, especially for low-wage workers who are struggling to make ends meet.

Current Negotiations:

In 2019, the House of Representatives passed the Raise the Wage Act, which would gradually increase the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2025. The bill was sponsored by Representative Bobby Scott (D-VA) and had the support of many Democrats.

In the Senate, a similar bill was introduced by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA). The bill, known as the Raise the Wage Act of 2021, would also increase the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2025.

Recent Developments:

In March 2021, the Senate passed the American Rescue Plan Act, which included a provision to increase the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2025. However, the provision was later removed from the bill after a tie-breaking vote by Vice President Kamala Harris.

In July 2021, the House of Representatives passed the Build Back Better Act, which includes a provision to increase the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2025. The bill is currently being negotiated with the Senate.

Current Status:

The federal minimum wage remains at $7.25 per hour, and there is no clear timeline for when it will be increased. However, there are ongoing efforts to pass legislation that would raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour or higher.

Key Players:

Next Steps:

The fate of the federal minimum wage increase will depend on the outcome of ongoing negotiations between the House and Senate. If a bill is passed, it will need to be signed into law by the President.

In the meantime, many states and cities are taking matters into their own hands by increasing their minimum wages. For example, California, New York, and Massachusetts have all set their minimum wages at $15 per hour or higher.