U.S. Senate Passes Bill to Increase the Federal Minimum Wage to $7.25

This afternoon the U.S. Senate passed The Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007 by a vote of 94 - 3.  This legislation would increase the federal minimum wage from the current $5.15 per hour to $7.25 per hour in three steps over two years.  This legislation also includes additional provisions including tax benefits for small businesses.  This bill will now be need to be reconciled with a different minimum wage bill that the U.S. House of Representatives passed in January.

Learn more:

• Information on minimum wage bill passed by the U.S. Senate
• Information on minimum wage bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives
• From FindLaw: Minimum Wage and Overtime Basics
• From FindLaw: State Minimum Wage Laws