Sen. Josh Hawley and Sen. Peter Welch are proposing legislation to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour and provide for annual increases to account for inflation. The proposal aims to address the stagnant wages of working Americans and the eroded purchasing power of the U.S. dollar due to inflation.
Key Points
Current federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour
Proposed raise to $15 per hour with annual increases based on inflation
Bipartisan effort led by Sens. Hawley and Welch
Pros
Addresses stagnant wages of working Americans
Helps working families afford necessities like housing and groceries
Reflects the current financial reality
Cons
Opposition from some conservative commentators like Dana Loesch
Debate on the impact of raising the minimum wage on jobs and businesses