With families struggling to survive during the pandemic, and no more stimulus checks, we need minimum wage to be increased. The US poverty rate is significantly high due to low income jobs. If we were to raise the wage to $15 per hour, Americans would be able to provide and live a healthy lifestyle. Companies make millions and millions of dollars in earnings every business quarter. These companies can afford to pay their employees more, but don't. In the long run, peoples lives are more important. We need to raise the minimum wage to help our Americans survive.