Minimum Wage Workers , Across the U.S. Hit Hard , By Surging Gas Prices.br 'Newsweek' reports that many minimum wage workers br in the United States are spending almost an hour's pay br on their commute to work amid surging gas prices. .br 'Newsweek' reports that many minimum wage workers br in the United States are spending almost an hour's pay br on their commute to work amid surging gas prices. .br Last week, gas prices in the U.S. br reached record highs after Washington br banned Russian energy imports. .br Last week, gas prices in the U.S. br reached record highs after Washington br banned Russian energy imports. .br According to the U.S. Census Bureau, br over 75 of Americans drive to work every day. .br If you are making less than a living wage, br you are already making decisions about br how to pay for rent and how to stretch br your dollars because you don't br have enough for rent and for food br and for all the other necessities br by the time of your next paycheck, Adam Shah, Director of national policy br at Jobs With Justice, via 'Newsweek.br If you are making less than a living wage, br you are already making decisions about br how to pay for rent and how to stretch br your dollars because you don't br have enough for rent and for food br and for all the other necessities br by the time of your next paycheck, Adam Shah, Director of national policy br at Jobs With Justice, via 'Newsweek.br The issue of having to choose br between medicine and gasoline br and rent become even worse br as inflation spikes, Adam Shah, Director of national policy br at Jobs With Justice, via 'Newsweek.br The issue of having to choose br between medicine and gasoline br and rent become even worse br as inflation spikes, Adam Shah, Director of national policy br at Jobs With Justice, via 'Newsweek.br Even in states with either a higher minimum wage or more stable gas prices, minimum wage workers spend over 50 of a day's work on a full tank of gas. .br Even in states with either a higher minimum wage or more stable gas prices, minimum wage workers spend over 50 of a day's work on a full tank of gas. .br In states like Idaho and Pennsylvania, which both have lower minimum wages and high gas prices, workers are spending as much as 90 of a day's pay on a full tank. .br 'Newsweek' reports that while costs have br risen sharply, federal minimum wage rates br have remained unchanged for over a decade. .br 'Newsweek' reports that while costs have br risen sharply, federal minimum wage rates br have remained unchanged for over a decade. .br The federal minimum wage has been frozen br for years. It was already scandalously low br when the COVID driven price increases hit, br and of course it has not responded at all br to these increases in the cost of living, Damon Silvers, the American Federation of Labor and Congress br of Industrial Organizations's senior strategic advisor br and special counsel to the President, via 'Newsweek.br The federal minimum wage has been frozen br for years.