STATEMENT: CAP President Neera Tanden on the President’s Proposal to Raise the Minimum Wage

Washington, D.C. — In response to President Barack Obama calling for an increase in the minimum wage in his State of the Union address, Center for American Progress President and CEO Neera Tanden issued the following statement:

President Obama’s proposal to raise the minimum wage is a giant step for the middle class. It would help millions of people striving to enter the middle class and would strengthen the economy by increasing workers’ purchasing power. Increasing the minimum wage would be especially helpful to women, who comprise more than 62 percent of minimum-wage workers. This is a crucial step to ensure the economy works for all Americans and that we grow together, not grow apart.

To speak with an expert on this topic, contact Katie Peters at [email protected] or 202.741.6285.

Related resources:

• The Facts on Raising the Minimum Wage When Unemployment Is High (CAPAF)
• Women Are the Biggest Losers from Failure to Raise Minimum Wage (CAPAF)

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