June 10, 2025
Mr. Hawley (for himself and Mr. Welch) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
To amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to provide for increases in the minimum wage, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Higher Wages for American Workers Act of 2025
.
Sec. 2. Minimum wage increase
(a) In general
Section 6(a)(1) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 206(a)(1)) is amended to read as follows:
(1)
except as otherwise provided in this section, not less than—
(A)
$15, beginning on January 1 of the first year that begins after the date of enactment of the Higher Wages for American Workers Act of 2025; and
(B)
beginning on January 1 of the second year that begins after such date of enactment, and each January 1 thereafter, the amount determined by the Secretary under subsection (h);
(b) Annual change based on inflation
Section 6 of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 206) is amended by adding at the end the following:
(h)
(1)
On September 30 of the first year that begins after the date of enactment of the Higher Wages for American Workers Act of 2025 and on September 30 of each year thereafter, the Secretary shall determine, in accordance with paragraph (2), the amount of the minimum wage to be in effect under subsection (a)(1)(B) for each period described in such subsection.
(2)
The wage determined under this subsection for a year shall be—
(A)
the amount in effect under subsection (a)(1) on the date of such determination increased by the percentage increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (or a successor index), as published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, for the 12-month period ending with July of the year in which the determination occurs; and
(B)
rounded to the nearest multiple of $0.05, if the amount after applying subparagraph (A) is not a multiple of $0.05.
Sec. 3. Effective date
This Act and the amendments made by this Act shall take effect on January 1 of the first year that begins after the date of enactment of this Act.