Labor and Economic Development

The Honorable Harry Reid The Honorable Mitch McConnell

Senate Majority Leader
Capitol Building, S-221
Washington D.C. 20510-7020
Senate Minority Leader
Capitol Building, S-302
Washington, D.C. 20510-7010

January 17, 2007

Dear Senator Reid and Senator McConnell:

The U.S. House of Representatives on January 10, 2007, overwhelmingly passed on a bipartisan basis, H.R. 2, The Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007. The bill increases the federal minimum wage in three steps over 26 months, raising the wage from the current $5.15 per hour to $7.25 per hour. The National Conference of State Legislatures supports an increase in the federal minimum wage and urges the Senate to approve similar legislation.

We understand that Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus will bring forth similar minimum wage legislation today that will also include a package of tax proposals. We are supportive of the provision to make the Work Opportunity Tax Credit permanent and grateful that the tax package does not include provisions authorizing Association Health Plans or preempting state authority to set state minimum wages by requiring tip credits as NCSL is opposed to these proposals.

As you well know, the current federal minimum wage has not been increased since 1997. Further, 29 states and the District of Columbia currently have established state minimum wages that are higher than the national minimum wage. We urge swift resolution of this legislation and look forward to working with you on this important issue that will improve the lives of working families. For additional assistance and information, please have your staff contact Gerri Madrid-Davis or Diana Hinton Noel in NCSL’s Washington, D.C. office.

Sincerely,

Representative Steve Conway
Washington State Legislature
Chair, NCSL Labor and Economic Development Standing Committee