[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7471 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7471
To provide for increases in the Federal minimum wage, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 10, 2026
Mr. Norcross introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Education and Workforce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide for increases in the Federal minimum wage, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Give America a Raise Act''.
SEC. 2. MINIMUM WAGE INCREASES.
(a) In General.--Section 6(a)(1) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of
1938 (29 U.S.C. 206(a)(1)) is amended to read as follows:
``(1) except as otherwise provided in this section, not
less than--
``(A) $10.00 an hour, beginning on the effective
date under section 7 of the Give America a Raise Act;
``(B) $13.00 an hour, beginning 1 year after such
effective date;
``(C) $16.50 an hour, beginning 2 years after such
effective date;
``(D) $20.00 an hour, beginning 3 years after such
effective date; and
``(E) beginning on the date that is 4 years after
such effective date, and annually thereafter, the
amount determined by the Secretary under subsection (h)
for the year;''.
(b) Determination Based on Increase in Inflation and Gross Domestic
Product.--Section 6 of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C.
206) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(h)(1) Not later than each date that is 90 days before a new
minimum wage determined under subsection (a)(1)(E) is to take effect
for a year, the Secretary shall determine the amount of the minimum
wage under this subsection for the year. The amount of the minimum wage
determined under this subsection for a year shall be the amount in
effect under subsection (a)(1) on the date of such determination, as
increased (subject to paragraph (2)) by the greater of--
``(A) the annual percentage increase in the Consumer Price
Index for all Urban Consumers, as determined by the Bureau of
Labor Statistics, for the most recent 12-month period for which
data is available; or
``(B) the annual percentage increase in the Gross Domestic
Product, as determined by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, for
the most recent 12-month period for which data is available.
``(2) In the event that, in determining the amount of the minimum
wage under this subsection for a year, there is not an annual
percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index described in paragraph
(1)(A) and there is not an annual percentage increase in the Gross
Domestic Product described in paragraph (1)(B), the amount determined
under this subsection for such year shall be the amount in effect under
subsection (a)(1) on the date of such determination.
``(3) In the event that the amount of the minimum wage determined
under this subsection for a year is not a multiple of $0.05, such
amount shall be rounded up to the nearest multiple of $0.05.''.
SEC. 3. TIPPED EMPLOYEES.
(a) Base Minimum Wage for Tipped Employees and Tips Retained by
Employees.--Section 3(m)(2)(A)(i) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of
1938 (29 U.S.C. 203(m)(2)(A)(i)) is amended to read as follows:
``(i) the cash wage paid such employee, which for
purposes of such determination shall be not less than--
``(I) for the 1-year period beginning on
the effective date under section 7 of the Give
America a Raise Act, $6.00 an hour;
``(II) $8.00 an hour, beginning 1 year
after such effective date;
``(III) $10.00 an hour, beginning 2 years
after such effective date;
``(IV) $12.50 an hour, beginning 3 years
after such effective date;
``(V) $15.00 an hour, beginning 4 years
after such effective date;
``(VI) $17.50 an hour, beginning 5 years
after such effective date;
``(VII) $20.00 an hour, beginning 6 years
after such effective date; and
``(VIII) for each succeeding 1-year period
after the increase made pursuant to subclause
(VII), the minimum wage in effect under section
6(a)(1); and''.
(b) Tips Retained by Employees.--Section 3(m)(2)(A) of the Fair
Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 203(m)(2)(A)) is amended--
(1) in the second sentence of the matter following clause
(ii), by striking ``of this subsection, and all tips received
by such employee have been retained by the employee'' and
inserting ``of this subsection. Any employee shall have the
right to retain any tips received by such employee''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following: ``An employer shall
inform each employee of the right and exception provided under
the preceding sentence.''.
(c) Scheduled Repeal of Separate Minimum Wage for Tipped
Employees.--
(1) Tipped employees.--Section 3(m)(2)(A) of the Fair Labor
Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 203(m)(2)(A)), as amended by
subsections (a) and (b), is further amended by striking the
sentence beginning with ``In determining the wage an employer
is required to pay a tipped employee,'' and all that follows
through ``of this subsection.'' and inserting ``The wage
required to be paid to a tipped employee shall be the wage set
forth in section 6(a)(1).''.
(2) Publication of notice.--Subsection (i) of section 6 of
the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 206), as added
by section 5 and amended by section 6(b)(1), is further amended
by striking ``or in accordance with subclauses (II) through
(VIII) of section 3(m)(2)(A)(i),''.
(3) Effective date.--The amendments made by paragraphs (1)
and (2) shall take effect on the date that is 1 day after the
date on which the hourly wage under subclause (VIII) of section
3(m)(2)(A)(i) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29
U.S.C. 203(m)(2)(A)(i)), as amended by subsection (a), takes
effect.
(d) Penalties.--Section 16 of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938
(29 U.S.C. 216) is amended by striking ``unlawfully kept'' each place
it appears and inserting ``unlawfully kept or used''.
SEC. 4. NEWLY HIRED EMPLOYEES WHO ARE LESS THAN 20 YEARS OLD.
(a) Base Minimum Wage for Newly Hired Employees Who Are Less Than
20 Years Old.--Section 6(g)(1) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938
(29 U.S.C. 206(g)(1)) is amended by striking ``a wage which is not less
than $4.25 an hour.'' and inserting the following: ``a wage at a rate
that is not less than--
``(A) for the 1-year period beginning on the effective date
under section 7 of the Give America a Raise Act, $6.00 an hour;
``(B) for each succeeding 1-year period until the hourly
wage under this paragraph equals the wage in effect under
section 6(a)(1) for such period, an hourly wage equal to the
amount determined under this paragraph for the preceding year,
increased by the lesser of--
``(i) $2.00; or
``(ii) the amount necessary for the wage in effect
under this paragraph to equal the wage in effect under
section 6(a)(1) for such period; and
``(C) for each succeeding 1-year period after the increase
made pursuant to subparagraph (B)(ii), the minimum wage in
effect under section 6(a)(1).''.
(b) Scheduled Repeal of Separate Minimum Wage for Newly Hired
Employees Who Are Less Than 20 Years Old.--
(1) In general.--Section 6(g) of the Fair Labor Standards
Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 206(g)), as amended by subsection (a),
shall be repealed.
(2) Publication of notice.--Subsection (i) of section 6 of
the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 206), as added
by section 5 and amended by sections 6(b)(1) and 3(c)(2), is
further amended by striking ``or subparagraph (B) or (C) of
subsection (g)(1)''.
(3) Effective date.--The repeal and amendment made by
paragraphs (1) and (2), respectively, shall take effect on the
date that is 1 day after the date on which the hourly wage
under subparagraph (C) of section 6(g)(1) of the Fair Labor
Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 206(g)(1)), as amended by
subsection (a), takes effect.
SEC. 5. PUBLICATION OF NOTICE.
Section 6 of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 206),
as amended by section 2(b), is further amended by adding at the end the
following:
``(i) Not later than 60 days prior to the effective date of any
increase in the required wage determined under subsection (a)(1) or
subparagraph (B) or (C) of subsection (g)(1), or in accordance with
subclauses (II) through (VIII) of section 3(m)(2)(A)(i) or section
14(c)(1)(A)(i), the Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register and
on the website of the Department of Labor a notice announcing each
increase in such required wage.''.
SEC. 6. PROMOTING ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH
DISABILITIES.
(a) Wages.--
(1) Transition to fair wages for individuals with
disabilities.--Subparagraph (A) of section 14(c)(1) of the Fair
Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 214(c)(1)) is amended to
read as follows:
``(A) at a rate that equals or exceeds, for each year, the
greater of--
``(i)(I) $5.00 an hour, beginning on the effective
date under section 7 of the Give America a Raise Act;
``(II) $8.00 an hour, beginning 1 year after such
effective date;
``(III) $11.00 an hour, beginning 2 years after
such effective date;
``(IV) $14.00 an hour, beginning 3 years after such
effective date;
``(V) $17.00 an hour, beginning 4 years after such
effective date;
``(VI) $20.00 an hour, beginning 5 years after such
effective date; and
``(VII) the wage rate in effect under section
6(a)(1), beginning 6 years after such effective date;
or
``(ii) if applicable, the wage rate in effect on
the day before the date of enactment of the Give
America a Raise Act for the employment, under a special
certificate issued under this paragraph, of the
individual for whom the wage rate is being determined
under this subparagraph,''.
(2) Prohibition on new special certificates; transition
assistance.--
(A) In general.--Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor
Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 214(c)) is amended by
adding at the end the following:
``(6) Prohibition on New Special Certificates.--Notwithstanding
paragraph (1), the Secretary shall not issue a special certificate
under this subsection to an employer that was not issued a special
certificate under this subsection before the date of enactment of the
Give America a Raise Act.
``(7) Transition Assistance.--Upon request, the Secretary shall
provide--
``(A) technical assistance and information to employers
issued a special certificate under this subsection for the
purposes of--
``(i) assisting such employers to comply with this
subsection, as amended by the Give America a Raise Act;
and
``(ii) ensuring continuing employment opportunities
for individuals with disabilities receiving a special
minimum wage rate under this subsection; and
``(B) information to individuals employed at a special
minimum wage rate under this subsection, which may include
referrals to Federal or State entities with expertise in
competitive integrated employment.''.
(B) Effective date.--The amendments made by this
paragraph shall take effect on the date of enactment of
this Act.
(3) Sunset.--Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act
of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 214(c)), as amended by paragraph (2), is
further amended by adding at the end the following:
``(8) Sunset.--Beginning on the day after the date on which the
wage rate described in paragraph (1)(A)(i)(VII) takes effect, the
authority to issue special certificates under paragraph (1) shall
expire, and no special certificates issued under paragraph (1) shall
have any legal effect.''.
(b) Publication of Notice.--
(1) Amendment.--Subsection (i) of section 6 of the Fair
Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 206), as added by
section 5, is amended by striking ``or section
14(c)(1)(A)(i)''.
(2) Effective date.--The amendment made by paragraph (1)
shall take effect on the day after the date on which the wage
rate described in paragraph (1)(A)(i)(VII) of section 14(c) of
the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 214(c)), as
amended by subsection (a)(1), takes effect.
SEC. 7. GENERAL EFFECTIVE DATE.
Except as otherwise provided in this Act, this Act and the
amendments made by this Act shall take effect on the first day of the
third month that begins after the date of enactment of this Act.
<all>