Heinrich Applauds President’s Action On Minimum Wage
Calls to raise federal minimum wage across the board
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Congressional Joint Economic Committee, applauded President Obama after the White House announced today he will sign an executive order setting the minimum wage for workers under new federal contract to be paid $10.10 an hour.
"I commend President Obama for taking this important step toward paying all American workers a living wage," said Sen. Heinrich. "No one who works full-time in New Mexico should have to live in poverty -- this is especially critical for women, who make up a disproportionate share of minimum wage workers today. Our economy is stronger when we reward an honest day's work with fair wages, which is why Congress should follow the president's lead and raise the federal minimum wage across the board."
Heinrich and 14 other senators sent President Obama a letter in September urging him to issue an executive order that would be tantamount to setting a minimum wage at $10.10 an hour for federal contractors. Heinrich is also a cosponsor of the Fair Minimum Wage Act. In 2005, then-Albuquerque City Councilman Heinrich successfully led the fight to increase the city minimum wage.
