; and (B) undermines economic opportunity for authorized workers. 3. Purposes The purposes of this Act are— (1) to gradually increase the Federal minimum wage; (2) to provide a permanent authorization for E-Verify; and (3) to require all employers to use E-Verify. 4. Minimum wage increases (a) Scheduled increases Section 6(a) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 ( 29 U.S.C. 206(a) ) is amended— (1) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following: (1) except as otherwise provided in this section, not less than— (A) $8.00 per hour, beginning on the effective date under section 4(e) of the Higher Wages for American Workers Act of 2023 ; (B) $8.75 per hour, beginning on the date that is 1 year after such effective date; (C) $9.50 per hour, beginning on the date that is 2 years after such effective date; (D) $10.25 per hour, beginning on the date that is 3 years after such effective date; (E) $11.00 per hour, beginning on the date that is 4 years after such effective date; (F) beginning on the date that is 5 years after such effective date, and every 2 years thereafter, the amount determined by the Secretary for purposes of this subsection under subsection (h); ; (2) in paragraph (3), by striking or after the semicolon; (3) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (5); and (4) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following: (4) if such employee is employed by a business with fewer than 20 employees (including a franchise with fewer than 20 employees) and except as otherwise provided under paragraph (2), (3), or (5), not less than— (A) $7.75 per hour, beginning on the effective date under section 4(e) of the Higher Wages for American Workers Act of 2023 ; (B) $8.25 per hour, beginning on the date that is 1 year after such effective date; (C) $8.75 per hour, beginning on the date that is 2 years after such effective date; (D) $9.25 per hour, beginning on the date that is 3 years after such effective date; (E) $9.75 per hour, beginning on the date that is 4 years after such effective date