The Leadership Conference is working diligently to see that Tom Perez is confirmed as U.S. Secretary of Labor. Perez is an eminently qualified public servant and consensus builder who has dedicated his career to ensuring that all individuals are treated fairly and have the opportunity to succeed. He has served with integrity and distinction at the local, state and national level, compiling an outstanding record of achievement.
Press Release - The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
Civil and Human Rights Coalition Backs New Minimum Wage Bill
For Immediate Release
Contact: Scott Westbrook Simpson, 202.466.2061, simpson@civilrights.org
July 26, 2012
Washington, D.C. – Wade Henderson, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, issued the following statement after today’s bicameral introduction of the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2012, which would raise the minimum wage and index it to inflation:
“Passage of the Fair Minimum Wage Act would raise the standard of living for millions of Americans, contribute to long-term shared prosperity, and expand our economy for the benefit of all. Economists estimate that this proposal would increase wages for 30 million Americans, generate more than $25 billion in GDP, and create the equivalent of more than 100,000 new full-time jobs.
A stunning 35 million Americans – 26 percent of our workforce – earn less than $10.55 an hour. People of color make up 41 percent of minimum wage workers and almost 60 percent are women. This bill is needed more than ever to address the shift toward low-wage work accelerated by the recession.
The Fair Minimum Wage Act would raise the current federal minimum wage of $7.25 to $9.80 by 2014, adjust it each year to keep up with the rising cost of living, and raise the sub-minimum wage for tipped workers. Raising the minimum wage is popular and fair. CEOs and many salaried workers receive regular cost of living increases. So should people who most need every dollar they earn.
We applaud Senator Harkin and Congressman Miller for introducing this legislation, a critical step that will help working families make ends meet, sustain consumer spending, and spur economic recovery.”
Wade Henderson is the president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 200 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its 200-plus member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.
