On July 18, 2019, the House passed H.R. 582, which would raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour incrementally over six years and then index it to inflation in each year thereafter. The measure passed primarily along party lines with a push from progressives and the Republican-controlled Senate is not expected to vote on the measure in its current form.

The US Chamber of Commerce cautioned that such a "dramatic spike" will lead to reduced hours, fewer jobs created, cut backs in operations, and quite likely job losses. The US Chamber of Commerce suggested that "a smarter approach to the minimum wage is to seek a level based on economic data and to remember that the federal minimum wage is intended to set the floor."

Following are highlights of the bill.

• Increase the minimum wage to $15. The current federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour would gradually increase as follows:
• $8.55 an hour, beginning on the effective date under section 7 of the Raise the Wage Act
• $9.85 an hour beginning 1 year after such effective date
• $11.15 an hour beginning 2 years after such effective date
• $12.45 an hour beginning 3 years after such effective date
• $13.75 an hour beginning 4 years after such effective date
• $15.00 an hour beginning 5 years after such effective date
• Beginning on the date that is 6 years after such effective date, and annually thereafter, an inflationary adjustment
• Repeal of subminimum wage. The subminimum wage that currently applies to tipped employees, certain disabled employees and workers under age 20 would be repealed after the final wage increase takes effect.
• Impact study. The bill requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to monitor the economic and employment impacts after the second stepped increase in the federal minimum wage and directs Congress to review the GAO's findings to determine if it should delay or modify future increases.

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