Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-34) joined Speaker Nancy Pelosi and fellow members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus at a press conference in the Speaker’s Ceremonial Room celebrating the first increase in the federal minimum wage in a decade. The longest increase gap in the history of the law left millions of families behind—with their paycheck’s spending power reaching its lowest effective level in nearly half a century. The new law took effect July 24th. Nearly 13 million people are expected to benefit from the pay raise. Championed by the new Democratic majority in Congress, the minimum wage increased by 70 cents from $5.15 to $5.85 an hour. It will increase another 70 cents in each of the next two summers to reach $7.25 an hour in July 2009. The minimum wage in California is $7.50 an hour. Congresswoman Roybal-Allard praised Speaker Pelosi for her leadership which she said was instrumental in securing passage of the wage increase.
 

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