CO HJR1012

Urges members of Congress to increase the federal minimum wage and tie it to inflation to ensure hard-working Americans can earn fair wages and support their families.

Notes federal minimum wage has declined 33% in purchasing power from its 1968 peak of $10.72 to $7.25, and Congress has only raised it twice in 20 years.

States a full-time minimum wage worker cannot afford a two-bedroom apartment in any state and can work full-time while remaining below the federal poverty line.

Argues minimum wage increases would reduce dependency on public assistance programs like food stamps and Section 8 housing vouchers, and would immediately boost wages for approximately 15 million low-income workers.

Cites Colorado and other states (Washington, Oregon, Ohio, Arizona) that raised minimum wages during high unemployment periods and experienced unemployment rate decreases of at least 1.5% during those periods.