Congressman Cohen Statement on Minimum Wage Increase

Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) issued the following statement regarding the minimum wage increase:

On Thursday, the second phase of the minimum wage increase went into effect, raising hourly pay for millions of American workers from $5.85 to $6.55. This will put another $28 a week into thousands of workers’ pockets in the 9th District to help them cope with the high price of gas and groceries. This is the direct result of legislation enacted by the Democratic-led Congress in May 2007 which will raise the minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 an hour over a two-year period.

For ten years, under a Republican-controlled Congress, the minimum wage was frozen at $5.15 an hour. This was the longest period in the history of the minimum wage law that minimum wage workers failed to get an increase. As a result, minimum wage workers fell further and further behind. Consumer costs – from gas prices to food to health care costs – have all skyrocketed at the same time that American families have seen their real income drop by almost $1,000 since 2001. This pay raise for 12.4 million workers nationwide is long overdue. It is wrong for millions of Americans to be working full-time and year-round and still living in poverty.

I am proud that this Congress took action on this issue. Hard-working people in Memphis who are making minimum wage deserve more, and I sincerely hope that this increase helps to abate at least some of the economic hardships that they confront every day. Our work is not finished, though, and I will continue to fight for more jobs, better benefits and higher wages for the people of Memphis.

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Contact:
Marilyn Dillihay, Press Secretary, 202-225-3265
Charlie Gerber, Communications Assistant, 202-225-3265