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2d ago

Hawley Unveils Bipartisan Bill to Raise Federal Minimum Wage to $15

The legislation is set to take effect in 2026 with future raises tied to inflation.

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U.S Sen. Josh Hawley on June 2, 2025, in Washington, D.C.
Activists appeal for a $15 minimum wage near the US Capitol in Washington in 2021. There have been many attempts to raise it, but there hasn't been an increase to federal minimum wage since 2009. (J. SCOTT APPLEWHITE/AP FILE)
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Overview

  • The bill ends the 16-year freeze on the federal rate by setting a $15 wage floor on Jan. 1, 2026.
  • It mandates annual cost-of-living adjustments to prevent future stagnation.
  • Sen. Peter Welch (D-VT) co-sponsors the Higher Wages for American Workers Act, creating a rare cross-party alliance.
  • Conservative groups like the Employment Policies Institute and GOP senators, including Kevin Cramer (R-ND), warn it could eliminate up to 800,000 jobs.
  • President Trump has described the existing $7.25 rate as “very low” but has not endorsed the specific $15 increase.