Ramirez, García, Jackson Local Officials Hold Field Hearing on Urgency of Raising Minimum Wage

Chicago, IL - Today, Congressmembers Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03) and Jesús "Chuy" García (IL-04), co-leads of theLiving Wage for All Act, joined by original co-sponsor Congressman Jonathan Jackson (IL-01) and local public officials, held a field hearing on the urgent need to raise wages. The field hearing served as a forum to elevate the testimonies of impacted individuals and elevate the case for raising the minimum wage in Congress. State Senator Graciela Guzman, State Representative Norma Hernandez, the latter serving as the lead sponsor to raise the minimum wage to $27 an hour in the state of Illinois, and Alderwoman Rosanna Rodriguez Sanchez participated in the hearing.

During the field hearing, the officials heard the testimony of directly impacted workers and organizers on both the challenges of today's minimum wage and the urgent need to pass legislation at the city, state, and federal levels, like the Living Wage for All Act, to raise the minimum wage to be a living wage.

"Growing up, I saw my immigrant parents and my neighbors working multiple minimum wage jobs just to survive. And today, as companies report record-high earnings, working people are STILL struggling to survive. People are working full-time and still cannot afford to live. That's because for 17 years, the federal minimum wage has been stuck at $7.25," said Congresswoman Ramirez, lead sponsor of the Living Wage for All Act, in her opening remarks. "So today, we come together in coalition to make clear there is an urgent need to raise wages. We will hear from workers and labor leaders who are at the forefront of this fight. Their insights will make a compelling case for why we need an economy that works for working people."

"Here in Chicago and all around the country, working families are struggling to pay their rent, buy groceries, go to the doctor, and pay for childcare. I see it every day where I live in Little Village. In the meantime, corporate profits have reached record highs, with the richest companies sitting on trillions of dollars," said Congressman García. "No family can survive on a minimum wage of $7.25 in today's economy. That's why I'm proud to support the Living Wage for All Act. Because it's time for a change."

"We have seen the data, but now we must feel the truth," said Congressman Jackson. "There is a cry rising from the kitchens and factory floors of America, from hospital hallways, grocery aisles, warehouses, and fields. It is the cry of people who are working every day-and still cannot make it. Congress must act and pass the "Living Wage for All Act" immediately, to raise wages, lift workers, and honor the work."

The field hearing counted with the testimonies from:

• Maria Merlos, tipped worker
• Daniel Rivera, warehouse worker
• Dr. Gladys Fátima Márquez, representative of the NEA Executive Committee
• Luis Samano Garcia, DACA recipient and postal worker
• Ameenah Morris, tipped worker

"I've thought about how an increase in the minimum wage would help me. If I made more, I could help my parents with expenses while saving up for graduate school, because I know I'd need a lot more than a small raise to make that possible. I could keep up with any loans or payments I'd have to make when I go back to school; taking out loans has always been a terrifying thought; I don't want to spend the rest of my years in debt and struggling to pay it off," said Maria Merlos. "As I'm sharing my story, I'm keeping in mind all the other service workers in Chicago and in the U.S; the workers who have been in the industry for much longer than I have, who are raising a family while working more than one job to keep up with bills and expenses, the young workers who are navigating their own futures when things are currently looking bleak, and immigrant workers who still wake up every day to go to work not knowing if they'll come back home."

"I am speaking from personal experience as someone working through a temp agency, where the wages provided are not enough to support a stable and basic way of living. Being paid at or near minimum wage has made it extremely difficult to afford everyday necessities," said Daniel Rivera. "There is a clear gap between what I earn and what it actually costs to live. This creates ongoing stress and uncertainty, making it hard to feel secure or financially stable. It is not just about income-it is about the ability to live with dignity while working full-time."

"In our schools, Education Support Professionals play a vital role in the lives of students. From clerical workers, bus drivers, to food service workers, to custodial and maintenance workers and paraeducators-they work hand-in-hand with teachers to cultivate student success, but often earn wages that barely scrape the floor," said Dr. Gladys Fátima Márquez. "We are facing an educator shortage worsened by the pandemic. We cannot fix the shortage without fixing the pay. By passing H.R. 8555, the Living Wage for All Act, we aren't just raising the minimum wage. We are investing in the stability of our families, the quality of the education system, and most importantly, providing respect and value for all educators do for our students."

"As an immigrant, I am working to become a citizen, but I often question if there will be any benefit from it. I wonder if this will continue to be the cycle of not living but surviving. No idea if I will ever be able to save for my own home or to be able to afford a family. People like me who work in essential positions are taken for granted and abused while being crushed under the weight of this economy," said Luis Samano Garcia. "It's 2026, and we are being overworked and underpaid. I know that all of us would rather strive than be forced to survive. It's time our politicians reflect this sentiment."

"I started in the restaurant industry at 15 for $11 an hour. Now I'm 21, and I make $12 an hour. My life has drastically changed since I started working, but unfortunately, my pay has not," said Ameenah Morris. "There is also something to say about the demographic of people that work these jobs, most of whom are Black and Brown, usually, women, who are historically disadvantaged when it comes to advocacy in our government. This is an inequity problem that needs to be resolved soon because, without these workers, our communities would collapse.

Ameenah added, "It should not be the responsibility of my customers to pay my bills. The onus is on restaurant owners, and lawmakers should be doing their due diligence in incentivizing and mandating one fair wage for all!"

To read the full testimonies of witnesses, click here.

To watch the live stream of the hearing, click here.

To watch the live stream of the press conference, click here.

For photos of the event, click here.

Background:

The federal minimum wage has remained stuck at $7.25 since 2009. Across the country, campaigns are moving to raise the wage to $25 or more, including legislation to raise the wage to Illinois to $27. On April 28, Congressmembers Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), Jesús "Chuy" García (IL-04), Lateefah Simon (CA-12) and Analilia Mejia (NJ-11) introduced the Living Wage for All Act. The Living Wage for All Act would raise the federal minimum wage to $25 per hour through a phased approach that reflects both the cost of living and the structure of the modern economy.