1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

I am writing as a constituent, an educator with a master's degree in TESOL, and a former Peace Corps volunteer who served in Grenada. I have seen firsthand how hard-working people struggle to make ends meet despite doing everything society asks of them. The current federal minimum wage, unchanged since 2009, is out of step with the realities faced by millions of Americans. A full-time worker earning $7.25 per hour brings in just over $15,000 per year. That is not enough to afford housing, food, and basic needs in any part of the country. We are long overdue for a federal minimum wage that reflects the cost of living and the dignity of work. Raising the minimum wage is not just a matter of fairness. It is also sound public policy. The Congressional Budget Office found that increasing the minimum wage to $15 per hour would lift nearly a million people out of poverty. It would also reduce federal spending on social programs like SNAP and Medicaid by making more families self-sufficient. This is not speculation. In states and cities that have raised their minimum wages, we have seen reduced dependency on public assistance and increased economic participation. A stronger minimum wage would mean that fewer people are forced to work multiple jobs just to survive. It would strengthen families, stabilize communities, and create more pathways to independence. These are not partisan goals. They are human ones. Please support legislation that raises the federal minimum wage to a livable level. Your leadership on this issue would mean a great deal to the people in our district who work hard every day and deserve a fair return for their labor.