July 27, 2006

The Honorable J. Dennis Hastert
Speaker of the House
H-232, The Capitol
Washington, D.C. 20515

The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
Democratic Leader
H-204, The Capitol
Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Mr. Speaker and Ms. Democratic Leader:

On behalf of the seven Change to Win unions representing 6 million workers, I urge you to bring a clean minimum wage bill to the floor of the House as soon as possible that does not include extraneous and controversial provisions.

It should be possible to build bipartisan consensus over the simple proposition that it is time to raise the minimum wage from $5.15 an hour to $7.25 an hour for the 6.6 million Americans – 80% of whom are adults – working at the minimum wage. After all, Congress has not increased the minimum wage since 1997. Yet, over those nine years congressional salaries have increased by $31,600 – almost three times the amount a minimum wage worker earns in a year.

If we want Americans to work, we need to make work pay. That means helping every American achieve the American Dream – a salary that can support a family, affordable health care, retirement security, a voice on the job, and a chance to give their kids an education and a better future.

While an increase in the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour will not fully achieve the American Dream for low-wage workers, it is an important step in the right direction.

Raising the minimum wage to a livable level is one of those touchstone issues that speak volumes about who we are as a country. I ask you to do the right thing and bring a bill to the floor that is simple and fair to workers, not bogged down with unrelated measures.

Sincerely,

Anna Burger
Chair