Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Sen. Peter Welch (D-VT) are working together to boost the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour and index it for inflation. They introduced the Higher Wages for American Workers Act to address the stagnant federal minimum wage that hasn't kept up with the economic reality facing working Americans.
Key Points
Bipartisan effort led by Sen. Josh Hawley and Sen. Peter Welch
Legislation ties minimum wage increases to the Consumer Price Index
Minimum wage currently lower than any point since the 1940s
Pros
Addresses stagnant federal minimum wage
Helps working Americans keep up with economic reality
Supports families in affording necessities
Cons
Could potentially lead to job losses in some industries