$10.10 for Hundreds of Thousands

Congressman Cleaver comments as the President signs an Executive Order raising the minimum wage for federal contract workers to $10.10 an hour:

“I applaud the President for assisting hundreds of thousands of Americans, including many thousands in Missouri’s Fifth District, get a fair wage for their hard work,” said U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II. “It has been far too long since Congress took action to increase the minimum wage. Full-time workers should not be falling below the poverty line in this country, and struggling just to put food on the table for their family. This is an important step forward.”

The Executive Order takes effect for new contracts starting January 1, 2015. It includes an increase in the tipped minimum wage, as well as a wage increase for federal contract workers. It also covers people with disabilities, and will improve value for both the federal government and for taxpayers by ensuring better quality, improving productivity, and lowering turnover and absenteeism.

Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Blue Springs, Grain Valley, Oak Grove, North Kansas City, Gladstone, Claycomo, and all of Ray, Lafayette, and Saline Counties. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and also serves as a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus.