Rep. Cleaver Introduces Legislation to Raise Minimum Wage

(Washington, D.C.) – This week, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) joined Congressman Bobby Scott (D-VA), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Education and Workforce, along with 141 other House Democrats, to introduce the Raise the Wage Act of 2025. According to the Economic Policy Institute, the Raise the Wage Act would gradually raise the minimum wage to $17 by 2030 and give roughly 22 million Americans a long-overdue raise. In Missouri, the average working family will have $1,228 more to spend per year in the local economy.

“While C-suite executives and corporate CEOs have seen their pay continue to rise to astronomical levels, working class Americans have continued to get the short end of the stick, failing to receive fair compensation for the work they do to ensure these massive corporations grow their record-breaking profits,” said Congressman Cleaver. “It’s not right—and it’s about time Congress took action provide these hardworking Americans a fair pay raise, which will stimulate local economies nationwide. I’m proud to support legislation that would give that long-overdue raise to working class Americans in my congressional district and every community across the country.”

“No person working full-time in America should be living in poverty. The Raise the Wage Act will increase the pay and standard of living for nearly 22 million workers across this country. Raising the minimum wage is good for workers, good for business, and good for the economy. When we put money in the pockets of American workers, they will spend that money in their communities,” said Rep. Scott.

The Raise the Wage Act would:

• Gradually raise the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $17 by 2030.
• Index future increases in the federal minimum wage to median wage growth to ensure the value of minimum wage does not once again erode over time.
• Guarantee tipped workers are paid at least the full federal minimum wage by phasing out the subminimum wage for tipped workers, which will ensure decent, consistent pay without eliminating tips.

A fact sheet on the Raise the Wage Act is available here.

Official text of the Raise the Wage Act is available here.

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, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance.