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Gradual Minimum Wage Hike and Mandatory Nationwide E-Verify for All Employers.

This Act mandates a gradual increase in the Federal minimum wage, which will be indexed to inflation (Chained CPI) after five years. Crucially, it makes the E-Verify system permanent and mandatory for all US employers to verify employment eligibility, aiming to curb unauthorized employment. This introduces new compliance burdens for businesses and significantly raises penalties for violations.
Key points
The Federal minimum wage will increase incrementally, starting at $8.00 per hour, with automatic adjustments based on inflation every two years after the initial phase.
The E-Verify system for checking work authorization becomes permanent and mandatory for all US employers, phased in based on company size over 18 months.
Civil penalties for hiring unauthorized workers are substantially increased, and repeat violators face potential debarment from Federal contracts and grants.
States must share driver's license and ID information (including photos) with the Department of Homeland Security for E-Verify purposes, or risk losing certain federal development grants.
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Additional Information
Print number: 118_S_2785
Sponsor: Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR]
Process start date: 2023-09-13
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Summarized by: gemini-2.5-flash-preview-09-2025
Source data: api.congress.gov
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OFFICIAL LEGAL TITLE

Higher Wages for American Workers Act of 2023

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the official ID of this bill?

The official print number for this legislation is 118_S_2785.

Which chamber initiated this legislation?

This legislation was initiated in the Senate.

When did the legislative process begin?

The process officially started on 2023-09-13.

What are the main provisions?

Key points include:

  • The Federal minimum wage will increase incrementally, starting at $8.00 per hour, with automatic adjustments based on inflation every two years after the initial phase.
  • The E-Verify system for checking work authorization becomes permanent and mandatory for all US employers, phased in based on company size over 18 months.
  • Civil penalties for hiring unauthorized workers are substantially increased, and repeat violators face potential debarment from Federal contracts and grants.
  • States must share driver's license and ID information (including photos) with the Department of Homeland Security for E-Verify purposes, or risk losing certain federal development grants.
What is the specific legal status?

The current status is Expired.

Where can I read the full text of this legislation?

The full official text is available at: View full text

Who is the primary sponsor?

The primary sponsor is Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR].

What is the latest detailed status?

The latest detailed status is: Introduced in Senate

Is this summary verified?

Yes. This content was analyzed by AI and verified by the Lustra Judge System on 2025-12-26.

CATEGORIES

Labor Migration Economy