Congressional Bill Aims to Raise Federal Minimum Wage to $25 by 2031
A House proposal would lift the federal minimum wage to $25 an hour, with a phased schedule for large and smaller employers, but it faces a tight deadline before the 119th Congress ends.
The Living Wage for All Act, sponsored by Representative Delia Ramirez of Illinois, seeks to raise the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $25 per hour through a staged timetable—targeting large employers by 2031 and all other firms by 2038. The legislation would link the minimum wage to two-thirds of the national median hourly wage, automatically adjusting it each year, and would phase out reduced rates for tipped, youth and disabled employees.
The bill currently sits in the House Committee on Education and the Workforce without a hearing and is backed by 32 Democratic cosponsors, including Rashida Tlaib, Ro Khanna and Pramila Jayapal, as well as the Service Employees International Union. Proponents argue the move is needed to match today’s cost of living, while the Employment Policies Institute estimates the hike could eliminate about five million jobs, with the greatest impact on hospitality and workers aged 16-24. Senator Chris Murphy has indicated plans to introduce a Senate counterpart, but the proposal must clear the chamber before the 119th Congress adjourns in January 2027 or be refiled later.
Why it matters
Raising the minimum wage to $25 would reshape earnings for millions of workers and could significantly affect employment levels.
In this story
