Original Living Wage Act

HR 122, the Original Living Wage Act, amends the Fair Labor Standards Act to require the federal minimum wage to automatically adjust every four years based on a specific formula. The Secretary of Labor must set the wage so that a full-time worker earns an annual income 25.5% above the federal poverty threshold for a family of four (two adults, two children) in the contiguous U.S. This bill directly affects millions of low-wage workers covered by the federal minimum wage and their employers. The first adjustment would take effect September 1, 2023, with subsequent updates every four years, aiming to ensure minimum wage workers can afford basic needs like housing.