Press Releases

Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) released the following statement after the Department of Labor released its final rule extending overtime pay to more than 4 million U.S. workers – including 75,000 in Washington.

“Outdated workplace policies in the United State are preventing millions of full-time workers from earning a living wage. By extending overtime pay to more than 4 million hardworking Americans, the administration’s effort is a meaningful step toward ensuring a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work,” DelBene said. “Strong economic growth can only be achieved when all Americans have the opportunity to succeed. That’s why I’ll continue to fight to raise the federal minimum wage, close the wage gap between women and men and provide paid sick leave.”

The Department of Labor announced today that starting Dec. 1, workers making $47,476 or less will qualify for overtime pay – nearly double the current salary threshold of $23,660. This threshold will also be indexed to inflation to provide for future increases.

DelBene has helped introduce the Raise the Wage Act, which would increase the federal minimum wage to $12 an hour by 2020, as well as the Paycheck Fairness Act to help close the wage gap between women and men. She also cosponsored the Healthy Families Act, which allows workers to earn up to seven paid sick days a year.

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