House Delays American Samoa Wage Hike

The House passed a bill (H.R. 2617) by voice vote Sept. 28 that would delay implementation of a scheduled minimum wage increase in American Samoa.

The measure, sponsored by Del. Amata Radewagen (R-A.S.), would amend the Fair Minimum Wage Act, a 2007 law that instituted the nation’s most recent federal minimum wage increase—to $7.25 per hour. The bill also contained a provision requiring American Samoa to raise its minimum wage every three years by 50 cents per hour, beginning in 2009, until it reached the federal level, according to remarks Radewagen gave on the House floor.

The minimum wage in ...