4566583 Resolution 20-276, “Sense of the Council in Support of the Fair Minimum Wage Act Emergency Resolution of 2013”

A RESOLUTION

                                                        

20-276  

 

IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

 

September 17, 2013

 

 

To declare the sense of the Council in support of the federal Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2013, recognizing that this measure will improve the lives of many Americans, including the residents of the District of Columbia, and that this is a much-needed step towards supporting low-wage workers across the country.

 

            RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this resolution may be cited as the “Sense of the Council in Support of the Fair Minimum Wage Act Emergency Resolution of 2013”.

            Sec. 2. The Council finds that:

                        (1)  In March of 2013, Representative George Miller and Senator Tom Harkin introduced the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2013.

                        (2)  The minimum wage has lost more than 30% of its value and would be $10.55 per hour if it had kept pace with the cost of living over the last 40 years.

                        (3)  The bill proposes to raise the national minimum wage from the current minimum wage of $7.25 to $10.10 in 2 years using 3 95-cent increases to the minimum wage.

                        (4)  More than 30 million workers would receive a raise if the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2013 is passed.

                        (5)  Three years after the first increase, and annually thereafter, the bill proposes that the amount of the minimum wage will be determined by increases in the consumer price index.

                       (6)  The bill proposes that the minimum wage for tipped employees should be raised to $3.00 an hour from today’s minimum wage of $2.13.

                       (7)  The federal minimum wage has not been raised since 1991.

                       (8)  This measure will raise the minimum wage to keep pace with the cost of living, starting in 2016.

           (9)  Many low-wage workers are unable to support themselves without government assistance even though they have a full-time job.

                       (10)  This bill would increase the minimum wage in the District to $11.10 an hour in 3 years, as the minimum wage in the District is $1 higher than the national average.

                       (11)  Studies have shown that raising low wages can create jobs due to low-wage workers being more apt to spend money when they are receiving higher pay.

                       (12)  Higher wages would help to boost the economy both in the District and throughout the country.

                        (13)  The passage of the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2013 will signify a trend toward providing all Americans with the opportunity to provide for their families without having to choose between necessities.

                        (14)  The citizens of the District will greatly benefit from the passage of the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2013.

                        (15)  The Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2013 will provide much-needed support to low-wage workers throughout the country.

 

Sec. 3.  It is the sense of the Council that the passage of the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2013 will be beneficial to the citizens of the District and will create more jobs and stimulate the economy.

 

Sec. 4.  The Secretary to the Council shall transmit a copy of this resolution, upon its adoption, to the Mayor, the Secretary to the United States Senate, the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Committee Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, the Committee Chair and Senior Democratic Member of the House Education and Workforce Committee, and the Hon. Eleanor Holmes Norton, Member of Congress representing the District of Columbia.

 

Sec. 5. This resolution shall take effect immediately.