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H.R. 2637 101st Congress House

Living Wage Act of 1990

Official title: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to increase the amount of the earned income tax credit for taxpayers with school age or preschool age children, to a… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to increase the amount of the earned income tax credit for taxpayers with school age or preschool age children, to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to increase the minimum wage, and for other purposes.

Introduced: June 14, 1989 See on congress.gov
Labor and Employment Adult educationAid to dependent childrenCongressional employeesDisabled
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Discrimination in employmentEarningsElementary school studentsFamiliesHouse of RepresentativesIncome taxIndexing (Economic policy)Minimum wagesOvertimePoorPublic assistance programsSecondary school studentsSmall businessStandardsTax creditsTipping
This bill died when the 101st Congress ended
It never became law before the 101st Congress (1989–1990) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jul 12, 1989
Referred to the Subcommittee on Labor Standards.
Jun 14, 1989
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Jun 14, 1989
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Jun 14, 1989
Introduced in House
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 Latest action July 12, 1989

Referred to the Subcommittee on Labor Standards.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Living Wage Act of 1990 - Title I: Earned Income Tax Credit - Amends Internal Revenue Code provisions governing the earned income tax credit to: (1) increase from $5,714 to $7,000 the amount of earned income subject to the credit; (2) increase the basic credit from 14 percent to 15 percent; and (3) add additional credits to apply to not more than four children of five percent for each dependent school age child between age six and age 16 and ten percent for each preschool age child. Reduces the amount of the credit for taxpayers with adjusted gross income over $40,000. Indexes amounts relating to the credit beginning in 1992.

Disallows application of the nonrefundable dependent care income tax credit with respect to a taxpayer's dependents under age 13, unless the child is physically or mentally incapable of self-care. Permits the credit with respect to handicapped children under age 15 only if the taxpayer elects not to include the child within the framework of the earned income credit.

Repeals provisions of the Family Support Act of 1988 that revise the way in which the earned income credit is treated in the context of needs analysis for purposes of State plans for aid and services to needy families with children under title IV of the Social Security Act.

Title II: Federal Minimum Wage - Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (the Act) to increase the minimum wage per hour from $3.35 in 1989 to: (1) $3.65 in 1990; (2) $3.95 in 1991; and (3) $4.25 in 1992 and thereafter.

Increases the tip credit under the Act from 40 percent to 50 percent. (The tip credit deems the amount paid to a tipped employee, for minimum wage purposes, to be increased by an amount determined by the employer, but not by an amount in excess of the specified percentage of the applicable minimum wage rate).

Increases the small business exemption by revising the definition of an enterprise engaged in commerce, for purposes of coverage under the Act ("the enterprise test"). Exempts from such coverage enterprises whose annual gross volume of sales or business is less than $500,000 (currently $362,500), effective in 1990. Requires employers who were covered in 1988, but who are exempt under the new threshold, to continue to pay the $3.35 per hour minimum wage.

Authorizes employers, in lieu of the minimum wage, to pay a newly hired employee not less than $3.35 an hour and thereafter not less than 80 percent of the increased minimum wage.

Applies the rights and protections of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to employees in the House of Representatives, employees under the Architect of the Capitol, and employing authorities of the House of Representatives.

Authorizes employers to employ any employee for periods of not more than ten hours in excess of the 40-hour maximum without paying overtime if during such periods the employee is receiving remedial education.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 2637: Living Wage Act of 1990. 101st Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/101-HR-2637/
MLA
"H.R. 2637: Living Wage Act of 1990." 101st Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/101-HR-2637/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 2637, 101st Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/101-HR-2637/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 2637: Living Wage Act of 1990](https://openamerica.io/bill/101-HR-2637/)
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