03.13.14

Miller Applauds President Obama’s Plan to Strengthen Overtime Protections

WASHINGTON—In response to President Obama’s announcement today that he will direct the Department of Labor to revamp regulations on overtime pay, Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), senior Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, released the following statement.

“It’s pretty simple: people deserve fair pay for a fair day’s work. This is a basic promise of the American Dream. President Obama has moved to ensure we make good on that promise. Today’s announcement will strengthen overtime pay protections and ensure that millions of Americans earn a wage that more accurately reflects the hard work they’ve put in. Corporate profits are soaring, but workers’ wages are close to an all-time low as a share of the economy, and families all across this country are struggling to make ends meet. Together with the President’s Executive Order to raise the minimum wage for federal contractors to $10.10 per hour, today’s action will help hard-working Americans. It’s time Congress follow the President’s lead and pass the Fair Minimum Wage Act.”

The Fair Minimum Wage Act (H.R. 1010), introduced by Rep. Miller on March 6, 2013, would raise the minimum wage in three steps to $10.10, and then provide for automatic, annual increases linked to changes in the cost of living. It would also gradually raise the minimum wage for tipped workers, which currently stands at just $2.13 an hour.