DATE UPDATED: Smith-Wade-El and Haywood to hold virtual town hall June 22

LANCASTER, June 14 – State Rep. Ismail Smith-Wade-El, D-Lancaster, and state Sen. Art Haywood, D-Montgomery/Phila. will hold a virtual town hall from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. June 22.

Following their successful “Raise the Wage” rally in Lancaster in June, the legislators are holding the virtual town hall to further raise awareness of efforts to increase the minimum wage in Pennsylvania, focusing on Haywood’s “Raise the Wage” legislation, S.B. 772.

“I am looking forward to teaming up with my colleague, state Senator Art Haywood, to raise awareness about legislative efforts to raise the minimum wage, especially his Raise the Wage bill,” Smith-Wade-El said. “Raising the minimum wage would help reverse decades of pay inequality and narrow the racial pay gap for workers of color. Raising the minimum wage also benefits our economy as working families will be able to spend more, injecting revenue into Pennsylvania’s economy, and strengthening our overall financial health.”

"Raising the minimum wage is a form of respect for the dignity of hardworking people,” Haywood said. "Right now, the minimum wage doesn’t justly compensate our people for the work they do and doesn’t allow them to live a decent life. Our working people deserve a living wage, which allows them to have a roof over their heads and food on the table. My legislation would establish a $15-per-hour minimum wage for Pennsylvania’s workers.”

The event will be streamed live on www.RepIzzy.com and www.SenatorHaywood.com, as well as

@RepIzzy and @SenatorArtHaywood on Facebook.

Attendees can RSVP here.

Attendees can submit questions before and during the one-hour town hall by emailing RepSmithWadeEl@pahouse.net.

Questions about the town hall can be directed to Smith-Wade-El’s office at 717-283-4218.