To amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to provide for an increase in the Federal minimum wage.

1. Adds SEC. __. FAIR MINIMUM WAGE wherever appropriate

   Adds a section

   Inserted: SEC. __. FAIR MINIMUM WAGE.

   Inserted: (a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the "Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2004".

   Inserted: (b) Increase in the Minimum Wage.--

   Inserted: (1) In general.--Section 6(a)(1) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 206(a)(1)) is amended to read as follows:

   Inserted: "(1) except as otherwise provided in this section, not less than--

   Inserted: "(A) $5.85 an hour, beginning on the 60th day after the date of enactment of the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2004;

   Inserted: "(B) $6.45 an hour, beginning 12 months after that 60th day; and

   Inserted: "(C) $7.00 an hour, beginning 24 months after that 60th day;".

   Inserted: (2) Effective date.--The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall take effect 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act.

   Inserted: (c) Applicability of Minimum Wage to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.--

   Inserted: (1) In general.--Section 6 of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 206) shall apply to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

   Inserted: (2) Transition.--Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the minimum wage applicable to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands under section 6(a)(1) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 206(a)(1)) shall be--

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   Inserted: (A) $3.55 an hour, beginning on the 60th day after the date of enactment of this Act; and

   Inserted: (B) increased by $0.50 an hour (or such lesser amount as may be necessary to equal the minimum wage under section 6(a)(1) of such Act), beginning 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act and every 6 months thereafter until the minimum wage applicable to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands under this subsection is equal to the minimum wage set forth in such section.

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   Original wording

   At the appropriate place, insert the following:

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As printed