Below is the Coalition on Human Needs’ statement supporting the Murray-Scott legislation to increase the minimum wage to $12 an hour. For sample tweets (with key facts) and graphics you can share with your networks to show support for this legislation, see this related blog post.
Coalition on Human Needs Celebrates Introduction of Raise the Wage Act;
Calls on Congress to Increase the Minimum Wage to Help Millions of Working Families

The Coalition on Human Needs applauds Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and Representative Bobby Scott (D-VA) for introducing the Raise the Wage Act. The bill would increase the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $12 by 2020, boosting wages for nearly 38 million workers in America and roughly restoring the minimum wage to its purchasing power in the late 1960s. The bill would also gradually eliminate the subminimum wage for tipped workers (or tipped minimum wage), which has been frozen at $2.13 an hour since 1991. In addition, it finally indexes the minimum wage so that it maintains its value over time as prices and the cost of living increase.

“Raising subpar wages would improve the lives of millions, decrease poverty, and stimulate our economy,” said Deborah Weinstein, executive director of the Coalition on Human Needs. “Currently, a mom working full time at a minimum wage job and raising two children earns $4500 below the poverty line. And tipped workers are nearly twice as likely as non-tipped workers to live in poverty. As the wealthiest nation on Earth, we can and should do better by our workers. The 38 million who would benefit include 21 million women, more than a third of African-American workers, and 40 percent of Hispanic workers. Nearly one-quarter of all children – almost 19 million – have a parent who would get a raise.”

“Income inequality has grown to crisis levels in America, and wage stagnation is one of the driving factors. The minimum wage has continued to lose value over the last two and half decades, leaving the hardest working Americans further behind. Raising the minimum wage will lift millions of working families out of poverty and put us on the path to shared prosperity. By increasing earnings by more than $100 billion over the next five years for the workers affected, this bill would also benefit businesses and help build an economy that works for everyone. Raising the minimum wage has widespread support across America and is long overdue. The Coalition on Human Needs urges members of Congress to support and enact this legislation without delay to ensure hardworking families can get ahead.”