HR0705LRB101 19691 ECR 69184 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, In the United States, 38.1 million people live in
3poverty, with nearly 45 percent of that population living in
4deep poverty; and
 
5    WHEREAS, The United States Department of Agriculture
6estimates that 11.1% of households were food insecure in 2018;
7and
 
8    WHEREAS, Poverty is associated with higher mortality rates
9and a higher prevalence of acute or chronic diseases; those who
10live in poverty are often unable to provide safe and suitable
11living conditions for themselves or their families; and
 
12    WHEREAS, The purchasing power of the federal minimum wage
13peaked in 1968 at $1.60 an hour, which is equivalent to $12 an
14hour in 2019; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Annual inflation diminishes the true value of a
16minimum wage worker's paycheck; this leaves them with less
17purchasing power, mobility, and fewer opportunities; and
 
18    WHEREAS, The federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour and has
19remained the same for over a decade; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, To keep pace with labor productivity, the federal
2minimum wage should have been raised to $19.33 an hour in 2017;
3and
 
4    WHEREAS, Research has found that increasing the minimum
5wage reduces deaths from alcohol, drugs, and suicide; raising
6the minimum wage can also reduce crime while increasing
7economic productivity; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Over half of these United States have a higher
9minimum wage than the federal minimum wage; in 2016, 52 percent
10of voters supported raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour;
11and
 
12    WHEREAS, Recently, the State of Illinois passed
13legislation to increase the state minimum wage to $15 an hour
14by 2025; Illinois decided that the people deserve better, and
15now, it is time for the Federal government to do the same; and
 
16    WHEREAS, The Federal Government must provide a wage floor
17from which all Americans can make a living; therefore, be it
 
18    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
19HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
20we urge the Federal government to raise millions out of poverty
21by increasing the federal minimum wage; and be it further
 

 

 

HR0705- 3 -LRB101 19691 ECR 69184 r

1    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
2delivered to the Illinois Congressional Delegation.