Himes Joins President Obama in Calling for Minimum Wage Increase

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Jim Himes (CT-4) released the following statement after joining the President for an event on the minimum wage at the White House today. Himes is a cosponsor of the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2013 (H.R. 1010), which would raise the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10 per hour over the next two years. The U.S. Senate earlier today failed to move forward on a similar bill.

“I stand with the President in expressing deep disappointment in the Senate’s failure to move forward on raising the minimum wage. Connecticut has already led the way, establishing a fair minimum wage of $10.10 by 2017, but across the country, working families are still struggling to make ends meet. We cannot leave them behind – raising the wage nationally is morally right, and it will boost our economy through increasing consumer demand.

While I share the President’s frustration that a minority of Senators continues to hold this bill hostage, I remain hopeful that both parties will ultimately come together and join the 70 percent of Americans who support raising the minimum wage to get the job done. As a cosponsor of legislation to boost the federal minimum wage to $10.10, I urge House Leadership to bring the Fair Minimum Wage Act up for a vote and will continue working with my colleagues to ensure America’s minimum wage workers get the raise they need and deserve.”