(Washington, DC) – Today, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) voted for H.R. 582, the Raise the Wage Act, to gradually increase the federal minimum wage in the United States to $15 per hour over six years. The bill passed the House of Representatives today with bipartisan support, 231 to 199.

The legislation will mean 33 million Americans and more than 100,000 Houstonians will get a raise. The bill increases annual pay for the average affected year-round worker in TX-07 by $4,100. H.R. 582 is also expected to lift 1.3 million Americans out of poverty, including 600,000 children.

The $7.25 minimum wage went into effect on July 24, 2009, almost ten years ago, and has not been raised since—the longest stretch in history. At that rate, someone working 40 hours per week makes only $15,080 per year, which is less than the 2019 federal poverty level for households with two or more people.

“After hearing input from constituents across Texas’ Seventh Congressional District, I voted to ensure a living wage for hard-working Americans to support themselves and their families,” said Congresswoman Fletcher. “Hearing concerns from small businesses in our community about their ability to absorb the financial impact, I cosponsored an amendment to study the impacts and worked to address those issues. Gradual implementation over the next six years will allow our communities and the economy to adjust to this change and the GAO study will give further insight into any unforeseen outcomes. I am glad to vote today to lift up not only our workers, but our entire economy.”

Congresswoman Fletcher also worked with members to try and improve the bill to work for all Americans and all businesses. Fletcher co-sponsored an amendment offered by Rep. Tom O’Halleran (AZ-01) requiring an economic analysis by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) of the increases in the minimum wage to monitor the progress of the change, and fought for the inclusion of a longer implementation period that gives businesses time to prepare, which was changed in the bill last week. Fletcher also offered an amendment that would continue the exemption for newly hired workers under the age of 18, allowing for more job opportunities for seasonal teenage workers and small businesses the ability to hire and train them, which was not included in the bill.