House Democrats have introduced a bill that would raise the minimum wage to $9.80. It would be the first minimum wage increase since 2009 and the first increase for tipped workers in 21 years.

The Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2012, championed by Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., is receiving a lot of praise from low-wage workers who have been rallying for better pay. The legislation is garnering support especially from restaurant workers – particularly women, who make up two-thirds of all tipped workers – as their starting cash wage of $2.13 per hour has been untouched for two decades.

"Miller's bill represents the first initiative by House leadership that would include a much-needed increase for tipped workers in more than 15 years, and we cannot thank him enough," said Saru Jayaraman, co-director of ROC United, the only national restaurant workers organization in the country.