U.S. Senator Kay Hagan released the following statement this week after members of the Senate blocked legislation to gradually raise the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10 an hour:  “The people I talk to in North Carolina are working harder than ever only to fall further behind. What’s more, two out of every three minimum wage earners are women. As women are more and more often becoming primary household earners or co-earners, it is more important than ever that we close the wage gap and ensure women are earning a wage that allows them to support their families."  According to statistics released by Sen Hagan's office, in North Carolina, raising the minimum wage would:  Increase wages for 1.1 million workers by an average of nearly $1600 per year – money that would go right back into our state’s economy.  Lift nearly 220,000 North Carolinians out of poverty.