A Democratic bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, called the "Better Pay for American Workers Act," aims to increase the minimum wage by amending the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938. It sets a schedule to raise the wage to $15.00 by January 1, 2027, $17.50 by January 1, 2028, and $20.00 by January 1, 2029. Starting January 1, 2030, the minimum wage will be determined annually by the Secretary. These annual updates will be based on the percentage increase in the median hourly wage of all employees as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Yes· 3 of 24
- Scored +10
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
The bill directly increases the income of the lowest earners in the economy.
- Scored +10
Does this raise the lowest wage an employer may pay?
The bill explicitly raises the minimum wage to $20.00 by 2029 and indexes it to the median wage thereafter.
- Scored +8
Is this likely to lift people out of poverty?
Increasing the floor for hourly wages directly raises the income of the lowest-paid workers, aiding poverty reduction.
The opposite· 3 of 4
- Scored -7
Would business owners be better off under this?
Increases payroll expenses for all businesses employing minimum-wage workers.
- Scored -5
Would farmers be better off under this?
Agricultural employers will face significantly higher labor costs.
- Scored -5
Does this make it easier to run a small business?
Increasing the minimum wage significantly increases labor costs for small business owners.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Higher Hourly Pay: Workers would see their minimum wage increase to $15.00 in 2027, $17.50 in 2028, and $20.00 in 2029 (Section 2(a)(1)).
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Automatic Annual Adjustments: Starting in 2030, the wage will be adjusted annually based on the median hourly wage of all employees, ensuring the rate is updated by the Secretary (Section 2(a)(1)(D) and Section 2(h)(1)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts for people are explicitly mentioned in the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill directly increases the income of the lowest earners in the economy. Would students be better off under this? — Many students rely on minimum-wage part-time work for income. Would women be better off under this? — Women are overrepresented in low-wage and minimum-wage service sectors. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — Young adults are frequently employed in entry-level, minimum-wage positions. Would Black Americans be better off under this? — Disproportionately benefits populations that are overrepresented in low-wage labor. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — Disproportionately benefits populations that are overrepresented in low-wage labor. Would immigrants be better off under this? — Many immigrant workers are employed in minimum-wage positions. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — Benefits those in the low-wage workforce. Would men be better off under this? — Increases wages for men in low-wage employment. Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — Provides higher pay for individuals with disabilities in entry-level roles. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — Increases income for low-wage workers in rural economies. Would people in cities be better off under this? — High concentration of service-sector minimum wage jobs in urban areas. Would Asian Americans be better off under this? — Benefits those in the low-wage workforce. Would LGBTQ people be better off under this? — Benefits LGBTQ individuals who may be employed in low-wage roles. Would people in middle age be better off under this? — Provides a higher income floor for middle-aged low-wage workers. Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — Benefits veterans who are employed at the minimum wage. Would white Americans be better off under this? — Benefits white workers who earn the minimum wage. Would union members be better off under this? — Raises the baseline for non-union wages, which can increase pressure for higher union contracts. Would business owners be better off under this? — Increases payroll expenses for all businesses employing minimum-wage workers. Would farmers be better off under this? — Agricultural employers will face significantly higher labor costs.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — Increasing the floor for hourly wages directly raises the income of the lowest-paid workers, aiding poverty reduction. Is this likely to reduce homelessness? — Increased income for low-wage workers can improve their ability to afford housing. Does this narrow the gap between how men and women are treated? — Higher minimum wages provide a benefit to women who are heavily represented in minimum-wage employment. Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — Higher minimum wages typically disproportionately benefit minority workers who are overrepresented in low-wage roles.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this raise the lowest wage an employer may pay? — The bill explicitly raises the minimum wage to $20.00 by 2029 and indexes it to the median wage thereafter. Does this make it easier to run a small business? — Increasing the minimum wage significantly increases labor costs for small business owners.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill establishes a federal minimum wage floor that overrides lower state minimums. Does this leave more decisions to the states? — The federal mandate limits the ability of states to set their own lower minimum wage levels.
- 9/3/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- Introduced in House