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Pelosi Statement on Six Years Since Minimum Wage Increase

July 24, 2015

Contact: Drew Hammill, 202-226-7616

Washington, D.C. – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement on the sixth anniversary of the date the federal minimum wage increased to $7.25 an hour:

"In 2007, a Democratic Congress came together with President Bush to raise the minimum wage and strengthen working families. Thanks to this bipartisan achievement, the federal minimum wage increased to $7.25 an hour on this day in 2009.

"The minimum wage has now been frozen for six years. After all these years, it is clear we must act again to raise the minimum wage and give a long overdue pay raise to millions of hard working people across the country. Unfortunately, this Republican Congress refuses to work with Democrats to again increase the minimum wage so hard-working Americans are not forced to raise their families in poverty.

"We should work together to pass the Fair Minimum Wage Act to increase the federal minimum wage to $12 an hour, and renew our nation's promise that anyone who works hard and plays by the rules can get ahead. With this one act, we could give a raise to more than 25 million working people, lift up to 4.5 million Americans out of poverty, and generate some $22 billion in increased economic activity. Now is the time for Republicans to stop their cycle of dysfunction, obstruction and distraction and work with Democrats to bring bigger paychecks to families."

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