May 20, 2005

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Organizers of the "Let Justice Roll: Faith and Community Voices Against Poverty" campaign, including the National Council of Churches USA and the Center for Community Change, today announced its support of the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2005, which was introduced in the U.S. Senate and House on Wednesday, May 18 by Senator Edward Kennedy and Rep. George Miller, respectively. If it passes, the legislation, which calls for an increase in the federal minimum wage from $5.15/hour to $7.25/hour over two years, would be one step toward alleviating the increasing numbers of people who live in poverty in this country.

"This legislation is so important because of the severe needs that poor working people have," said Rev. Dr. Paul Sherry, the coordinator of the "Let Justice Roll/Living Wage" campaign. "We will work through communities of faith and community groups to urge Congress to pass this legislation without delay."

The "Let Justice Roll/Living Wage" campaign is working to raise the minimum wage at both the federal and state levels. Meeting in Washington, D.C. today the Steering Committee of the campaign noted its vigorous support for the new legislation even as plans were being made to launch a national effort on this issue.

The "Let Justice Roll: Faith and Community Voices Against Poverty" campaign began last year to organize voter registration efforts for the 2004 elections. In a 15-city tour, the partner organizations of the campaign registered about 100,000 new voters. The campaign is now committed to concentrate efforts in two areas: living wage and budget and tax fairness.

Faith and community groups are concerned about the increasing number of workers paid poverty wages in this nation. Since the last minimum wage increase was passed in 1997, the value has eroded by more than 15 percent. Consequently, to have the purchasing power it had in 1968, for example, the minimum wage would have to be $8.90/hour, $3.75 more than it is today.

More than 40 faith and community organizations are sponsoring the "Let Justice Roll/Living Wage" campaign (see full list below) to shape ongoing educational efforts to inform people about the severity of conditions facing low wage working people and what must be done to bring about constructive change.

"Let Justice Roll/Living Wage" Campaign Sponsors:
ACORN
African American Ministers Leadership Council (People for the American Way)
American Friends Service Committee
Arizona Ecumenical Council
California Church Impact
Center for American Progress
Center for Community Change
Cleveland ACORN
Dunk the Vote
Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon
Families United for Racial Economic Equality – "FUREE
Interfaith Worker Justice
Just Harvest
Kansas Ecumenical Ministries
Kentucky Council of Churches
Lehigh Valley Interfaith Mobilization
Let Justice Roll – Rochester
Lutheran Office of Governmental Ministry in New Jersey
Minnesota Council of Churches
Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation
National Council of Churches USA
New Mexico Conference of Churches
North Carolina Council of Churches
Ohio Council of Churches
Pennsylvania Council of Churches
Philadelphia Unemployment Project
Presbyterian Church (USA)
Progressive Christians Uniting
Progressive National Baptist Convention
Protestants for the Common Good
Social Concerns Network at Candler School of Theology
South Carolina People's Agenda
Southern California Ecumenical Council
The Episcopal Church USA
The Interfaith Alliance
Union for Reform Judaism
Unitarian Universalist Association
United Church of Christ, Justice & Witness Ministries
Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy
Voices of the Electors (V.O.T.E.)
Washington Association of Churches
Welfare Engine
WHALE Center
Wisconsin Council of Churches

National Council of Churches