On February 1, 2007 (Lunar Calendar December 14, 2006), the U.S. Senate passed the Federal Minimum Wage Bill. On February 1, 2007, the U.S. Senate raised the minimum hourly wage from $5.15 to $7.25 by raising the Federal Minimum Wage Bill with a overwhelming number of votes of 94-3. The bill also provided billions of dollars in tax deductions for small to offset wage costs.