For 10 years, Republican leaders have blocked a minimum wage increase by tying it to unacceptable anti-worker proposals--everything from doing away with the 40-hour workweek to massive tax cuts for the rich. Now we have a Congress controlled by people we elected to improve life for working families--not just corporate special interests and the wealthy.

The U.S. House of Representatives responded by approving Democratic-written legislation that would gradually raise the federal minimum wage to $7.25 an hour, the first such hike in 10 years.

In one of the Democrats' first victories since taking control of Congress last week, House members voted 315 to 116 to raise the federal wage floor by $2.10 over two years. The bill calls for the current $5.15 minimum wage to move to $5.85 an hour 60 days after President Bush signs it into law, to $6.55 an hour a year later and to $7.25 an hour a year later.

About 1.9 million U.S. workers earn the current minimum wage or less. Adjusted for inflation, the buying power of the minimum wage has fallen to its lowest level in five decades. Twenty-eight states and the District of Columbia have set minimum wages that surpass the federal standard. The legislation now moves to the Senate.

Remind our members of  the Senate why we elected them--call now, toll free, at 1-866-338-1015 and tell them to increase the minimum wage and reject any anti-worker amendments.