Rep. Scott Issues Statement on Raise Wage Act
I include in the Record the following letters in support of H.R. 582, Raise the Wage Act:
Dear Representative: This week, the
Income inequality is on an alarming trajectory and continues to rise unabated. Neither record-breaking corporate profits nor increased productivity have reversed or slowed this trend. This is not the kind of economy we should be building. The Raise the Wage Act is essential to bringing some measure or fairness and justice to workers who toil at the lower-end of the wage scale. It is an important step we can take to address growing pay inequality. An increase in the federal minimum wage, which has not increased since 2009, is long overdue.
H.R. 582 would raise the federal minimum wage from
Finally, the bill would remedy an egregious situation that has gone on for far too long. The bill would phase out the subminimum wage for tipped workers, which has been frozen at a paltry
No one who works hard and plays by the rules should live in poverty. Much is said about valuing work, and about respecting work. If we truly value work, if we truly respect work, the House will pass H.R. 582, the Raise the Wage Act of 2019.
Again, the
Sincerely,
____
Dear Representative: As President and CEO of the
The
We applaud the Raise the Wage Act of 2019 because it is a comprehensive minimum wage bill that would positively impact workers on different levels. H.R. 582 would:
Gradually raise the federal minimum wage from
Index future increases in the federal minimum wage to median wage growth to ensure the value of minimum wage does not once again erode over time;
Guarantee tipped workers are paid at least the full federal minimum wage by repealing the subminimum wage for tipped workers, which will ensure consistent, livable pay;
Guarantee teen workers are paid at least the full federal minimum wage by repealing the rarely used subminimum wage for youth workers; and
End subminimum wage certificates for individuals with disabilities to provide opportunities for individuals with disabilities to be competitively employed, taxpaying citizens and participate more fully in their communities.
Putting more money in the pockets of working Americans who will reinvest in our economy on things like groceries and housing will boost the economy from the bottom up and create real and sustainable job growth.
The federal minimum wage has not been increased since 2009. A decade is more than enough time for our nation's leaders to right this unjustifiable inequity. Let's get this done now. It's time for
Sincerely,
President and CEO,
____
CPSD, National Disability Rights Network,
Dear Representative: The undersigned organizations understand that the Raise the Wage Act of 2019 will soon come up for a vote before the full House. We unequivocally believe that any minimum wage bill must include ALL people, including people with disabilities. We strongly support the inclusion of the phase out of subminimum wages to people with disabilities, currently legal under Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), in the Raise the Wage Act and urge you to vote against any amendments that would leave people with disabilities out of this important bill.
Employment of people with disabilities has long been a bi- partisan national goal. The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) of 2014 established as a priority competitive integrated employment, where people with disabilities work in mainstream jobs alongside, and are paid comparable wages to, co-workers without disabilities. WIOA furthers the goal of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to advance the economic self-sufficiency of people with disabilities.
Yet, despite the clear national priority for competitive integrated employment, nearly 230,000 people with disabilities are legally paid sub-minimum wages under Section 14(c) of FLSA, largely in settings where they are segregated from their nondisabled peers and broader society. The subminimum wage creates and reinforces a life of poverty and dependency on public support. In hearings before this
As the Congressionally-created federal
[There is an] underlying need to amend Section 14(c) of the FLSA so that it reflects and aligns with modern federal disability policy and laws, which are based on the assumption that all individuals with disabilities are capable of, and have a right to, [competitive integrated employment]. The current widespread practice of paying workers subminimum wages, based on assumptions that people with disabilities cannot work in typical jobs, or on assumptions about the unavailability of alternative work opportunities, is antithetical to the intent of modern federal policy and law.
The inclusion of the 14(c) phase out in the Raise the Wage Act sends a clear message to the public that it is no longer acceptable to pay individuals with disabilities less than the minimum wage. The undersigned organizations stress again the necessity that the Raise the Wage Act of 2019 retain the phase out of the use of 14(c) certificates and bring an end to this blatantly discriminatory practice which allows for the payment of subminimum wages to people with disabilities.
Sincerely,
____
Dear Representative Scott: The undersigned organizations are writing to express our support for the Raise the Wage Act of 2019 (H.R. 582). The Act would raise the federal minimum wage from
According to the
Given the hardships involved with being a direct care worker, it is not surprising to learn that these positions cannot compete with less demanding and higher paying jobs, such as those in the fast food and retail industries. This strain on the nursing home workforce is supported by a recently published study in The Gerontologist, which indicates that periods of low unemployment (like the one the country is currently experiencing) result in nursing home workers looking for jobs outside of the industry. The report finds that high unemployment makes nursing home work more attractive and leads to better care for nursing home residents, noting that a 5.6 percentage point increase in the unemployment rate decreases deficiencies and would result in lower rates of pressure ulcers, physical restraints use, and weight loss.
Economic recessions should not dictate whether residents have access to quality of care and quality of life. The federal Nursing Home Reform Law requires every facility to provide services that allow residents to attain or maintain their "highest practicable physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being." Unfortunately, as the study above highlights, low wages continue to place residents at risk of experiencing higher rates of harm. A 2015 report by the
Improving the experiences of nursing home workers is critical in light of the growing need for direct care workers in the coming years. PHI reports that, "by 2050, the population of adults aged 65 and above--who comprise 83 percent of the nursing home resident population--is expected to nearly double, from 47.8 million (in 2015) to 88 million" Additionally, the number of adults 85 years old and above (40 percent of residents) "is expected to more than triple over the same period from 6.3 million to 19 million." Continuing to pay our direct care workers low, uncompetitive wages for physically and emotionally difficult jobs will only place greater strain on resident care.
Our organizations thank you for taking this step to increase the federal minimum wage and making it easier for nursing home workers to provide care to our nation's most vulnerable individuals. The Raise the Wage Act gives both nursing home workers and residents the hope of a better life.
Sincerely,
____
Dear Member of the
We come from a variety of faith perspectives, but our moral principles and faith traditions all affirm the need to promote human dignity by prioritizing vulnerable communities and individuals in need. Our faith traditions teach us that justice requires that every worker earn enough to provide a standard of living in accordance with their God-given dignity. The current federal minimum wage of
Passage of the Raise the Wage Act of 2019 would demonstrate to these workers relegated to a life of poverty that they are, in fact, valued as individuals and as members of society. The provisions of the Raise the Wage Act take substantive steps to ensure people earn wages that are enough to support themselves. Moving towards a universal wage floor of
Our families and our economy have been increasingly burdened by wage stagnation and income inequality. The Raise the Wage Act of 2019 would immediately lighten this burden by gradually raising the wage floor to broadly impact those at the bottom of the workforce. According to policy experts, more than 1 in 4 workers would be impacted by this legislation, 90 percent of whom are over the age of 20. Estimates project that low-income earners would make an additional
The time for the Raise the Wage Act. is long overdue. Just this month, we marked the shameful milestone of the longest period in
Sincerely,
____
Hon.
Hon.
Hon.
As an organization committed to ensuring the economic security of children and families in
A recent landmark study from the
According to the
Parents who live in a constant state of financial instability and struggle to provide enough resources for their children often suffer from stress, anxiety, and depression, making it more difficult to respond to their children's emotional needs. Increased income therefore promotes financial stability, improves the physical and mental health of children and families and in turn, reduces child maltreatment rates.
The Raise the Wage Act of 2019 is both an important step towards improving economic stability for 11 million children and a vital investment in the future of our country. We are grateful for your leadership in making children and families a legislative priority, and we look forward to working with you on this and other proposals to improve the well-being of children and youth.
Sincerely,
____
Network Lobby For Catholic Social Justice,
Dear Representative:
Surviving on
Sincerely,
Sister
____
Americans for Democratic Action,
Dear Representative: As Americans for Democratic Action, we urge you to vote in favor of H.R. 582, the Raise the Wage Act. The last time the Federal minimum wage increased was
The Raise the Wage Act Would:
Lift pay for tens of millions of workers and reverse decades of growing pay inequality;
Favor all low wage workers, only 10 percent of which being teenagers and restaurant workers;
Be particularly significant for workers of color, as 38 percent of African Americans and 33 percent of Latinos would see a wage increase;
Divert reliance on safety-net programs, which reduces burden on the taxpayer;
Raise wages for jobs considered to be middle class, including nearly one third of manufacturing workers, one fifth of construction workers, one sixth of educators, and one forth of health care workers
It is critical that you vote in favor the Raise the Wage Act as it comes to the floor this week and reject any Motions to Recommit. This legislation would provide numerous benefits to the working people of America, which underscores the importance of passing the bill as written. With wage stagnation surpassing record levels, voting yes on the Raise the Wage Act will provide long overdue relief to those who work but struggle to make ends meet. Please vote yes to raise the wage and improve the lives of millions of Americans.
Sincerely,
____
Dear Representative: On behalf of the
NELA advances workers' rights and serves lawyers who advocate for equality and justice in the American workplace. With members in every state, NELA is the country's largest professional organization exclusively comprised of lawyers who represent individual employees in employment discrimination cases and other employment-related matters. NELA and our 69 state and local affiliates have more than 4,000 members across our nation. Our members are private civil rights lawyers whose clients suffer the practical realities of an insufficient, inconsistent minimum wage.
The Raise the Wage Act is long-overdue. If passed, it will address the reality of stagnated wages and income inequality brought about, in part, by an outdated federal minimum wage that has not been raised in ten years. The current federal minimum wage of
According to a recent
Tens of millions of workers in America currently cannot afford basic living expenses for themselves and the families they support. These same workers stock our grocery stores, fulfill our online purchases, clean offices and homes, and perform thousands of other jobs that make every aspect of the lives of higher wage earners function. These workers are your constituents, and they deserve a raise. We urge you to pass the Raise the Wage Act now.
Sincerely,
TARGETED NEWS SERVICE,
Rep. McKinley: WV Delegation Urges President Trump to Declare Federal Disaster After West Virginia Flash Floods
OKEx Donates $4.5 Million to Foster Perpetual Swap Market
Advisor News
Annuity News
Health/Employee Benefits News
Life Insurance News