Recent Minimum Wage Legislation (4/29/04)

Recent Congressional Action (Last Updated: 4/29/04 )
APRIL 2004
Senator Kennedy (D-MA) has been trying to attach an amendment to raise the minimum wage to the internet tax bill recently. Kennedy has been working for an up or down vote on an increase to the minimum wage for over 6 months, attaching his amendment to a variety of legislative vehicles.

MARCH 2004
On March 30, 2004, Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Ted Kennedy (D-MA) offered an amendment to the TANF reauthorization bill to increase the minimum wage. The amendment called for an increase of the federal minimum wage to $7.00/hour in two steps over the next two years.

Both Senators Boxer and Kennedy made excellent speeches on the Senate floor advocating on behalf of a minimum wage increase. In response to the amendment, Republican Senate leaders attempted to invoke cloture on the welfare bill thereby barring the minimum wage amendment, but the vote failed 47 - 51 (60 votes were needed). Once again, rather than face a vote on the minimum wage, GOP leaders pulled the welfare bill from the floor.

JULY 2003
On July 11, 2003, Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) offered the Fair Minimum Wage Act as an amendment on the FY04 State Department Authorization Bill. Senate Republicans, fearing a vote on increasing the minimum wage, pulled the foreign aid bill from floor consideration and moved on to the FY 04 Defense appropriations bill. Democrats have vowed to continue to push for a vote on increasing the minimum wage.

See this Washington Post article for more details on the standoff on the Senate floor during the State Department bill debate.


THE FAIR MINIMUM WAGE ACT OF 2003

HOUSE VERSION (HR 965)
The Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2003 was introduced by Representative George Miller (D-CA) during the first session of the 108th Congress on February 27, 2003. The bill would raise the minimum wage to $5.90 per hour 60 days after enactment and to $6.65 per hour one year after that date. The legislation has 104 cosponsors.

Status of HR 965


SENATE VERSION (S 224)
The Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2003 was introduced by Senator Tom Daschle (D-SD) during the first session of the 108th Congress on January 28, 2003. The bill would raise the minimum wage to $5.90 per hour 60 days after enactment and to $6.65 per hour one year after that date. The legislation has 37 cosponsors in the Senate.

Status of S 224