Welch Calls Out Trump Administration Efforts to Cut Minimum Wage for Healthcare Workers

WESTCHESTER, Ill. – Speaker Emanuel ‘Chris’ Welch is calling out the Trump administration’s latest effort to undermine senior care and workers’ rights, joining state labor leaders who have filed formal opposition to a new proposal in Washington to slash wages for home-healthcare workers.

“No one cast their vote last November hoping for lower wages and worse healthcare, and yet that’s been the Trump administration’s driving focus,” Welch said. “Here in Illinois, we’re fighting for a better way forward—not only by opposing the radical agenda in Washington but by taking charge of the things we can control and building a brighter future in our state. While Washington thinks homecare workers are worth less, our state budgets have consistently delivered pay raises for these healthcare heroes, and we’re not done fighting.”

This week, Illinois Department of Labor joined states across the country in filing formal opposition to the Trump administration’s proposed rule that would strip away safeguards that had guaranteed home health care workers would receive at least the federal minimum wage.

Since taking office as Speaker, Welch has delivered state budgets that prioritize pay raises for these essential healthcare workers. Community Care Program in-home care workers are now paid $18 an hour.