Congresswoman Barbara Lee has accepted the “Live the Wage” challenge hosted by the Raise the Wage Coalition.

“I hope by accepting this challenge, I will bring greater attention to the need to raise the minimum wage and work towards a living wage,” said Congresswoman Lee. “Too many American families are working full-time, often at more than one job, and still not making ends meet.”

Starting on July 24^th, Congresswoman Lee will attempt to live on a minimum wage salary, like an estimated 9 million U.S. families.

Her budget must include groceries, commuting costs, bills and household necessities.

wp-more-tag mce-wp-more” title=”Read More…” data-wp-more=”” data-mce-resize=”false” data-mce-placeholder=”1″>p2″>“Living on $77 per week is hard for one person, harder still if you are raising a family. No one working full-time should live in poverty or on the edge of poverty,” added Congresswoman Lee.

Congresswoman Lee is first member of the California delegation to accept the challenge.

“Families living on minimum wage make hard choices every day around this country. It is even more difficult for people only earning minimum wage and living in the East Bay, where the cost of living is so high,” said Congresswoman Lee. “We need to not only raise the minimum wage but start working to establish a real living wage for all Americans.”

Academic research into raising the minimum wage has shown that an increase from $7.25 o $10.10 would support the creation of 85,000 new American jobs, increase the wages of 28 million American workers and generate $22 billion in economic activity.

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