Wages & Benefits

Middle class Americans are working harder and getting less.

The Democratic Congress passed the first minimum wage increase in nearly 10 years on May 24, 2007, and the first of three increases took effect on July 24, 2007. The Committee is also playing an active role in ensuring that workers are able to balance the demands of work and family, obtain affordable health care, and are not the victims of pay discrimination.

House Passes Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act

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Hearing Testimony »

On July 31, the House of Representatives passed legislation to rectify a Supreme Court ruling in May that made it harder for workers to pursue pay discrimination claims. The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act would clarify that every paycheck or other compensation resulting, in whole or in part, from an earlier discriminatory pay decision constitutes a violation of the Civil Rights Act. As long as workers file their charges within 180 days of a discriminatory paycheck, their charges would be considered timely. More »

Minimum Wage Increases For First Time in 10 Years

On July 24, minimum wage workers saw their first pay raise in a decade. After the House of Representatives voted on May 24 to approve legislation to increase the national minimum wage from $5.15 per hour to $7.25 per hour, President Bush signed the measure into law. The first phase of the law went into effect on July 24, when the minimum wage increased to $5.85 an hour. For more information on the minimum wage increase »

Mental Health Parity Bill Passes Committee

On July 18, the Committee approved bipartisan legislation to ensure better access to treatment for people suffering from mental illnesses. The Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act would require group health insurance plans to put coverage for mental illnesses on equal footing with physical ailments. More »

House Passes Measure to Provide Leave Time to Military Families

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Legislation to allow workers to use Family and Medical Leave to deal with issues that arise as a result of the deployment of a spouse, parent, or child to a combat zone like Iraq or Afghanistan was passed by the House on May 17. The measure was offered by Reps. Jason Altmire and Tom Udall as an amendment to a larger defense bill. More »

Related News

10/25/2007
Home Health Care Workers Need Overtime and Minimum Wage Protections, Witnesses Tell House Subcommittee

9/20/2007
Chairwoman Woolsey Introduces Bill to Ensure Minimum Wages and Overtime Pay for Home Health Care Workers

9/18/2007
Military Families Need More Flexibility to Care for Injured Veterans, Witnesses Tells Labor Subcommittee

11/30/2006
Minimum Wage Goes Without Increase For Longest Period In Law's History

New Report: Hidden Fees Eating Away At Workers� Retirement Savings

9/27/2006
Leading House Democrats Urge 48 Republicans to "Back Up Words with Action" On the Minimum Wage

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