Lucas,
We deserve a raise. After years of recession and tough times, the economy is slowly starting to grow again, but too many of us aren't sharing in that. That's why I'm leading the fight to raise the minimum wage.
And that's why it's so exciting that, this week, the Port Authority board unanimously voted to raise wages for more than 12,000 airport workers. Contract employees at LaGuardia, JFK, and Newark Airports will soon be making at least $1 more and all will earn at least $10.10 by the end of next year. And they'll be getting paid holidays, too!
I'm not going to let up the fight for fair wages but I need YOUR support. Lucas, will you contribute to my re-election campaign this weekend?
Making a difference for millions of Americans isn't easy. It wasn't easy the last time, either. When I led the fight in 2007 to increase the minimum wage, it had been a decade since the minimum wage was last raised. But we succeeded and millions of people earned more. They had a little more in their wallet to buy food, clothing, pay for rent, and all the other essentials of life.
Now, we're trying to do it again. More than 16 million Americans, most of them women and people of color, would benefit from more money in their pockets. Most of them are adults working full-time job, putting in 40 hours a week and often even more but going home to their families with very little in their pocket.
They deserve a raise. And that's why I'm fighting for them.
I'm locked in a tight re-election battle. I need to win so that, back in Congress, I can stand side-by-side with President Obama as we fight for America's working and middle-class. It's just too important to give up.
That's why, as a friend and long-time supporter, I'm turning to you. I need your help now, so that we can keep fighting for higher wages for all Americans. We just won them for airport workers but now we need to deliver for everyone else.
Lucas, will you contribute to help us win?
Thank you,
Charles B. Rangel
Member of Congress