

Undeniable progress in raising the minimum wage

For two years, President Obama has used his State of the Union Address to call on Congress to raise the minimum wage so that hardworking Americans are able to make a decent living. It's a proposal with broad support—7 in 10 Americans agree that it's time to raise the federal minimum wage. Nobody who works full-time should be forced to raise their family in poverty.

But Congress still has yet to pass legislation to give America a raise.

Gridlock in Washington can't stifle the momentum though. The truth is that we are seeing incredible progress on the minimum wage, and it has come from nearly every avenue other than Congress.

We've seen state legislators from both sides of the aisle come together, because they know that more money in the pockets of working Americans means more spending at local businesses. Since 2013, New York, California, Delaware, Washington, D.C., West Virginia, Connecticut and Minnesota, have all passed minimum wage increases and signed them into law, and other states already have legislation in motion to follow suit.

We've seen voters directly pass ballot initiatives, like in New Jersey, where they overwhelmingly approved a minimum wage amendment that will give 250,000 New Jerseyans a raise.

We've seen business owners raise wages for their employees, because they know that workers who feel valued are more productive and less likely to leave their jobs. From multi-billion dollar companies like Gap Inc., to small businesses like Pi Pizzeria, American business owners have joined the fight for better wages. And we've seen the President lead by example, raising the wage for all federal contractors by executive order.

Congressional inaction can be extremely frustrating. But when it comes to increasing the minimum wage and lifting families out of poverty, lawmakers on Capitol Hill haven't stopped America from a tidal wave of progress.

Congress should get on board instead of sitting on the sidelines. But in the meantime, states, businesses, and volunteers will keep on moving forward. Join the fight to raise the minimum wage.

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