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This month, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) joined 141 other House Democrats including House Committee on Education and Workforce Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA-03) and Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Ranking Member Bernie Sanders (I-VT) to introduce the Raise the Wage Act of 2025. The Raise the Wage Act would gradually raise the minimum wage to $17 by 2030 and give roughly 22 million Americans a long-overdue raise.

After more than fifteen years with no increase in the federal minimum wage—the longest period in U.S. history—millions of our nation’s workers are working full-time jobs but are still struggling to make ends meet. 

"No one should live in poverty, especially not in America, the world’s richest nation," said Congresswoman Escobar. "I'm thrilled to join so many of my colleagues and continue our efforts to address economic inequality. Millions of Americans who work a minimum wage job should haven't to live paycheck to paycheck and struggle to survive. They deserve the dignity of a wage that helps them provide for themselves and their families."

“No person working full-time in America should be living in poverty,” said Rep. Scott. “The Raise the Wage Act will increase the pay and standard of living for nearly 22 million workers across this country. Raising the minimum wage is good for workers, good for business, and good for the economy. When we put money in the pockets of American workers, they will spend that money in their communities.” 

“The $7.25 an hour minimum wage is a starvation wage. It must be raised to a living wage – at least $17 an hour,” said Senator Sanders. “In the year 2025, a job should lift you out of poverty, not keep you in it. At a time of massive income and wealth inequality, we can no longer tolerate millions of workers trying to survive on just $10 or $12 an hour. Congress can no longer ignore the needs of the working class of this country. The time to act is now.” 

The Raise the Wage Act of 2025 would:

• Gradually raise the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $17 by 2030. 
• 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 phasing out the subminimum wage for tipped workers, which will ensure decent, consistent pay without eliminating tips.
• Guarantee teen workers are paid at least the full federal minimum wage by phasing out the rarely used subminimum wage for youth workers.  
• End subminimum wage certificates for workers with disabilities to provide opportunities for workers with disabilities to be competitively employed and participate more fully in their communities.

The Raise the Wage Act of 2025 has 142 original House co-sponsors and is endorsed by 85 organizations.

To read the bill text, click here. 

To read the legislation’s fact sheet, click here. 

To read the section-by-section of the legislation, click here.