On Thursday, the House of Representatives passed a bill that would raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2025. The bill, which was passed by a 231-199 vote, is the first time in a decade that the federal minimum wage has been raised.
The bill, which is part of the Democrats’ “Raise the Wage Act,” would gradually increase the federal minimum wage from its current rate of $7.25 an hour to $15 an hour by 2025. After that, the minimum wage would be indexed to median wage growth.
The bill is expected to benefit more than 33 million workers, including those in the restaurant, retail, and hospitality industries. It would also help close the gender wage gap, as women make up two-thirds of minimum wage workers.
The bill is now headed to the Senate, where it is expected to face stiff opposition from Republicans. President Trump has also threatened to veto the bill if it passes the Senate.
Despite the opposition, the bill’s passage in the House is a major victory for Democrats and labor advocates who have long pushed for an increase in the federal minimum wage.
“Today’s vote is a victory for the millions of workers across the country who are struggling to make ends meet,” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. “It’s time for the Senate to act and pass this bill so that we can give hardworking Americans the raise they deserve.”
The bill’s passage in the House is a major step forward in the fight to raise the federal minimum wage. However, it is still unclear if the bill will pass the Senate and be signed into law.