1. United States
2. Letter

The current federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour is unacceptable and must be raised substantially to support working families. A $15 minimum wage by 2025 would lift 1.3 million families out of poverty and raise wages for up to 27.3 million workers, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Even in difficult economic times, evidence shows increasing the minimum wage does not hinder job growth and can boost consumer spending as workers have more income. The minimum wage's real value has declined severely since its 1968 peak - had it kept pace with productivity gains, it would now be $24 per hour. Corporate profits continue rising while wages stagnate. We urge legislative action to rewrite the rules and ensure the minimum wage allows working Americans a decent standard of living. Raising it is vital for reducing inequality and investing in our workforce.