Gillibrand officials said Black and Hispanic workers disproportionately feel the burden of these low wages as compared to their white counterparts. That disparity is even worse for women of color.

According to Gillibrand, the federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour, the lowest since 1956. The Raise the Wage Act aims to increase hourly wages to $17 an hour from the current $15.50 New York ...