the american people. reporter: confident that the legislation will reach the president s desk, the house speaker was triumphant. we had a victory today for the american people. and frankly, we also had a victory for common sense. yeah. reporter: democrats who have championed a wage increase cheered the house. i have congratulated the republicans. the republicans stepped up and acted as adults. i want to commend both sides of the aisle for working towards an agreement. reporter: low-wage workers celebrate. this will allow me to work just one job, spend more time at home with my wife, be able to go back and finish my education hopefully. reporter: over the last 40 years we ve watched the minimum wage s value plummet from its highest point in 1968 to where it stands today at $7.25 an hour. $3.25 lower than what it should be if it had kept pace with inflation. we need minimum wage to go up so that way we can survive.