Jon Johnson File Photo/Gila Herald: U.S. Rep. Tom O’Halleran added an amendment to the House of Representatives’ minimum wage increase bill to study economic impact. Pictured, he speaks about economics during a public event in Pima in 2018.
Contributed Article
WASHINGTON D.C. – On Thursday, Congressman Tom O’Halleran (AZ-01) voted to pass legislation that raises the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour over the next six years through annual increases. The legislation includes an amendment introduced by O’Halleran that requires the Government Accountability Office to conduct an analysis after the first two scheduled increases to determine the economic and employment impacts the increase had on the economy.
“Arizonans voted overwhelmingly to raise the minimum wage in 2016, and since 2011, Arizona’s minimum wage has been higher than the federal wage, which hasn’t changed since 2009. Families are struggling to put food on the table and make ends meet, and it is clear that we need to pass a fair minimum wage,” O’Halleran said. “It is also important that Congress knows and fully understands the economic effects of a policy proposal like this, so I am pleased to see the House voted to pass my bipartisan amendment to the bill that provides a nonpartisan analysis as the wage increases take effect.”
According to analysis, nearly 79,000 residents of Arizona’s First Congressional District would see a wage increase following the passage of a federal minimum wage increase.
O’Halleran’s bipartisan amendment to the Raise the Wage Act passed the House of Representatives in a 248-191 vote.
CSPAN Video/Posted By Rep. Tom O’Halleran
