Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., on Tuesday introduced legislation seeking to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour starting in 2026, with increases in subsequent years to match the cost of inflation.

Hawley, considered one of the most conservative representatives in the House, is co-sponsoring the legislation, called the “Higher Wages for American Workers Act,” with Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., reported CBS News.

“For decades, working Americans have seen their wages flatline. One major culprit of this is the failure of the federal minimum wage to keep up with the economic reality facing hardworking Americans every day,” Hawley said in a statement. “This bipartisan legislation would ensure that workers across America benefit from higher wages.”

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