(Washington, DC): -- Congressman Michael R. McNulty (D-Green Island) issued the following statement this evening urging the Republican House Leadership to schedule a vote on raising the minimum wage without attaching potentially divisive "poison pill" amendments to the legislation:

“We need to ensure that the millions of Americans who work hard, day in and day out, are fairly compensated. We should pass legislation to increase the federal minimum wage by $2.10 – from $5.15 to $7.25. After ten years, an increase in the minimum wage is long overdue. America’s workers deserve this raise – with no strings attached.

"An overwhelming majority of Americans favor increasing the minimum wage and the people’s House should honor their wishes. And it should do so without sweeteners for special interests and without more tax breaks for the wealthy. Americans deserve a simple up-or-down vote."

The minimum wage has not been increased since 1997 and is at its lowest level in 50 years, when adjusted for inflation. Over the last decade, and in recent months in particular, House Democrats have offered legislation, amendments, and procedural motions on the House Floor to gradually raise the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour. These efforts have been defeated, time and time again, by the Republican majority in the House.

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