Home/News from NPR/Senate Says No To $15 Minimum Wage For Now, But Democrats Vow To Push On Senate Says No To $15 Minimum Wage For Now, But Democrats Vow To Push On By Audie Cornish February 5, 2021 President Biden’s push for a $15 federal minimum wage appears to be on hold for now. As part of a marathon session of voting on amendments to Biden’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package, the Senate late Thursday approved by voice vote a measure prohibiting an increase of the federal minimum wage during the global pandemic. “A $15 federal minimum wage would be devastating for our hardest-hit small businesses at a time when they can least afford it,” said Sen. Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa, who brought up the amendment.