representative Eni Faleomavaega noted that the territory has not been subject to the mainland minimum wage and said, "...the global tuna industry is so competitive that it is no longer possible for the federal government to demand mainland minimum wage rates for American Samoa without causing the collapse of our economy...". Final passage The minimum wage was passed by the House and the Senate on May 24, 2007 as part of HR 2206, the supplemental aid to the Iraq War. As part of the deal, $257 million worth of tax breaks were given to small business over a 10-year period to offset the wage increase. The bill was thus ultimately enacted as a rider to the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007. President George W. Bush signed the bill on the next day. Proposed amendments The bill , To amend Public Law 93–435 with respect to the Northern Mariana Islands, providing parity with Guam, the Virgin Islands, and American Samoa (S. 256; 113th Congress), is a bill that was introduced into the 113th United States Congress. S. 256 would amend the Fair Minimum Wage Act to provide for no Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands minimum wage increases in 2013 and 2015. Omissions The minimum wage increase did not change the tip credit for tipped employees. Originally, it was automatically increased by being pegged to a percentage of the regular minimum wage. However, that changed during the 1990s. The federal tip credit, therefore, remains at $2.13. However, as even tipped employees are subject to the higher of State or Federal wage by law tipped staff effectively benefit from the minimum wage increase just the same. See also Minimum wage in the United States References : Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007 House Vote Roll Call Accessed January 13, 2007 Senate Vote Roll Call - Cloture Motion Accessed January 24, 2007 Senate Vote Roll Call Accessed February 1, 2007 Wage Rates in American Samoa Accessed January 14, 2007 Notes External links Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007 page on WashingtonWatch.com Acts of the 110th United States Congress Minimum wage law United States federal labor legislation United States federal legislation articles without infoboxes 2007 in labor relations Riders to United States federal appropriations legislation