Better Pay for American Workers

Full Title:
Better Pay for American Workers Act

Summary#

This bill would change the federal minimum wage schedule in the Fair Labor Standards Act. It sets the minimum wage at $15.00 per hour starting January 1, 2027; $17.50 per hour starting January 1, 2028; and $20.00 per hour starting January 1, 2029. Beginning January 1, 2030, and each year after, the minimum wage would be set each year by the Secretary under a new rule. That annual amount must be at least the current minimum and must be increased by the annual percentage increase, if any, in the median hourly wage of all employees as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The amount is rounded to the nearest $0.05. The bill was introduced by Representative Norma Torres on September 3, 2026, and referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

What it means for you#

  • If you earn the minimum wage, the bill would raise that wage on the dates shown and then adjust it yearly based on changes in the median hourly wage.
  • If you pay workers the minimum wage, you would need to update pay to the new rates on the listed dates and follow annual adjustments set by the Secretary.

Expenses#

No publicly available information on projected federal budget costs, state or local fiscal effects, or employer compliance costs is included in the provided bill text.

Proponents' View#

The bill's text and title state its purpose: to increase the minimum wage in steps to $20.00 by 2029 and then tie future increases to changes in the median hourly wage as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.