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Ro Khanna backs effort to raise minimum wage to $25
The measure would gradually raise the federal wage floor and remove subminimum pay categories tied to tipped and certain other workers.
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Malvika Choudhary - Tue, 28, Apr 2026
- 17:21 EDT
- 43
Congressman Ro Khanna / Ro Khanna website
U.S. Representative Ro Khanna co-introduced legislation to raise the federal minimum wage to $25 an hour, describing current economic conditions as a “new Gilded Age” marked by widening inequality.
The proposal, titled the Living Wage for All Act, was introduced by Analilia Mejía and Delia Ramirez. It would phase in a $25 hourly federal minimum wage, with large employers required to reach that level by 2031.
Also Read: Rep. Khanna distances from Hudson event over RSS ties
We are in a new Gilded Age.
— Rep. Ro Khanna (@RepRoKhanna) April 28, 2026
Proud to be an original sponsor of @repdeliaramirez and @Analilia_Mejia's bill to have the federal wage be $25 by 2031.
Real minimum wage was $14 in 1968.
Since then productivity has grown 2.5x, but the real minimum wage is today half.
Moving to… pic.twitter.com/6BiHvDs2Yt
Speaking at a press conference, Khanna said wages “have stagnated for almost sixty years,” noting that “the real minimum wage was fourteen dollars an hour” in 1968 compared to $7.25 today, even as productivity has increased “two and a half times.”
“When we’re talking about raising the wage to twenty-five dollars, we’re actually not even compensating workers for all of the productivity that they’ve added to the economy,” Khanna said.
The federal minimum wage has remained at $7.25 since 2009, even as living costs have increased across the United States. Supporters of the legislation cite data indicating that higher wages are needed for workers to meet basic expenses such as housing, food, and healthcare.
The bill would also index future wage increases to overall earnings growth and eliminate subminimum wages for tipped workers and certain categories.
The proposal faces uncertain prospects in a divided Congress, where previous efforts to raise the federal minimum wage have stalled.
Discover more at New India Abroad.
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