Rep. Bresnahan co-sponsors Fair Wage Act to raise minimum wage

WILKES-BARRE — U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan Jr. said on Tuesday that every Pennsylvanian who works hard deserves a fair wage that rewards hard work and keeps up with the cost of living.

“No one working full-time should struggle to put food on the table or keep a roof over their head,” said Bresnahan, R-Dallas Township. “Raising the minimum wage is about restoring fairness, rewarding hard work, and ensuring every worker in our communities can provide for their family. I am proud to stand firmly with NEPA workers as the first cosponsor of this legislation, and I will continue to support policies that reward hard work and build a stronger middle class.”

Bresnahan announced he co-sponsored the Fair Wage Act, to raise the minimum wage to match the cost-of-living.

This bipartisan legislation was first introduced by U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) and U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03). Bresnahan is the first cosponsor of the Fair Wage Act.

Bresnahan said the Fair Wage Act would increase the minimum wage for the first time in 16 years and would adjust over time for inflation.

“As we mark Labor Day, we are reminded of Northeastern Pennsylvania’s proud history of hardworking men and women whose grit built our communities,” Bresnahan said. “From the coal mines and factories to today’s small businesses and service industries, our region has always been powered by blue-collar workers. Raising the minimum wage honors that legacy by ensuring that every worker earns a fair day’s pay for a hard day’s work, and that the next generation can thrive right here at home.”

Fitzpatrick said across America, families are working hard, playing by the rules, and still falling behind.

“That is proof our federal minimum wage system is broken,” Fitzpatrick said. “A fair wage in Pennsylvania should not be measured against standards built for New York City or rural Arkansas.”