8/13/2019 Ellison Executive Action Letter

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December 4, 2013Barack ObamaThe President of the United StatesThe White House1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NWWashington, D.C. 20500Dear Mr. President:As you know, millions of Americans working on federal contracts today are not paid a living wage.Earliei this year the Congiessional Piogressive Caucus (CPC) requested a meeting with you to discusshow to help over two million low wage workers earn a days pay for a day s work. We believe that theadministration can take a bold step to improve the wages of these employees through executive action.We write today to reiterate our request for a meeting with you Rncimenthers of the CPC to present aproposal for an Executive Order to increase the wages of workers on federal contiactsWe share the growmg frustration of the Amencan public that incomes have mcreased for the wealthiestsliver of the population and stagnated or declined foi everyone else Economic inequality is the centialpolicy issue of our time and it is a daily reality for the people we represent This inequality is notinevitable, and it is not the fault of the workmg people of this country Income mequality i esults frompolicy decisions that can be changed We hope to start a conversation about executive action that canimprove the wages of federally contracted workers. We share our constituents disappointment that thisconversation ha s yet to take place.The federal government, through its contracts, employs more than two million Americans more peoplethan Walmart and McDonalds combined in industries as diverse as food, apparel, trucking, andauxiliary healthcare. They are paid an average of less than 12 per hour thats 23,040 a year i theytake no vacation. No matter what kind of family you support, that is not a reasonable income for aworking adult in this country. No serious economic policy supports paying such a miserly wage toworking people and granting enormous tax breaks to large corporations at the same time.We believe the federal government should set a positive example and pay workers a living wage. SinceMay, CPC Members and Senators have urged your administration to issue an executive order that wouldensure a i ll days pay for a i ll days work for low-wage federal contract workers. Members of Congresshave been supporting workers efforts to organize and increase wages around the country an effortsupported by the vast majority of the American public. Gallup poll conducted Nov. and found thatthree quarters of Americans support an increase in the minimum wage. You have the ability to make aliving wage a real ity for millions of Americans which will benefit their families and also spur neededeconomic growth.The American public looks to you for economic leadership. We look forward to meeting at your earliestconvenience.Sincerel

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