Catholic Charities Asks Help With Minimum Wage Legislation
Friday,January, 05 ,2007
Improving economic security for poor and vulnerable families in our nation is a key issue in Catholic Charities USA’s Campaign to Reduce Poverty in America (set to be launched on January 10th). Make your voice heard at this important time for low-income families and individuals!
WHAT: The 110th Congress convenes on January 4th, and increasing the minimum wage is among the first things the new leadership is set to address. Proposed legislation could move the federal minimum wage from $5.15 per hour to $7.25 per hour over two years. In addition to the new Congress’ focus on this issue, President Bush has signaled a willingness to consider signing legislation that includes an increase in the federal minimum wage.
Improving economic security for poor and vulnerable families in our nation is a key issue in Catholic Charities USA’s Campaign to Reduce Poverty in America (set to be launched on January 10th). Make your voice heard at this important time for low-income families and individuals!
ACTION NEEDED: Contact your Representative AND both of your Senators starting TODAY and ask them to:
BACKGROUND: Catholic Charities agencies across the country have been coping with steady increases in requests for emergency assistance because many low-wage workers simply do not earn enough to cover housing, food, utilities, child care and clothing costs for their families. Despite full-time work or multiple jobs, an individual working full-time at the current minimum wage will earn only $10,712 a year. If he or she is supporting a family of four, his or her earnings equal only 54 percent of the federal poverty level.
To read more about the minimum wage debate in Washington, please read two recent articles from The Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/22/AR2006122200736.html and http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/20/AR2006122001784.html.
Thank you - your efforts will make a difference!
For more information, please contact Lucreda Cobbs, Director of Immigration and Special Populations Policy at lcobbs@catholiccharitiesusa.org or Christin Driscoll, Senior Director for Policy Development and Advocacy at cdriscoll@catholiccharitiesusa.org.
Improving economic security for poor and vulnerable families in our nation is a key issue in Catholic Charities USA’s Campaign to Reduce Poverty in America (set to be launched on January 10th). Make your voice heard at this important time for low-income families and individuals!
ACTION NEEDED: Contact your Representative AND both of your Senators starting TODAY and ask them to:
- Support legislation that increases the federal minimum wage.
- Let them know that raising the federal minimum wage will help low-income families and individuals in your community make ends meet.
- Let them know that despite working full-time or in multiple jobs, families and individuals in your community are forced to turn to the services provided by Catholic Charities in order to cover the costs of housing, food, utilities, child care, and clothing on a regular basis.
BACKGROUND: Catholic Charities agencies across the country have been coping with steady increases in requests for emergency assistance because many low-wage workers simply do not earn enough to cover housing, food, utilities, child care and clothing costs for their families. Despite full-time work or multiple jobs, an individual working full-time at the current minimum wage will earn only $10,712 a year. If he or she is supporting a family of four, his or her earnings equal only 54 percent of the federal poverty level.
To read more about the minimum wage debate in Washington, please read two recent articles from The Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/22/AR2006122200736.html and http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/20/AR2006122001784.html.
Thank you - your efforts will make a difference!
For more information, please contact Lucreda Cobbs, Director of Immigration and Special Populations Policy at lcobbs@catholiccharitiesusa.org or Christin Driscoll, Senior Director for Policy Development and Advocacy at cdriscoll@catholiccharitiesusa.org.