Congress passes major job training legislation

Congress passed a compromise bill to provide job training for 1 million Americans at an estimated cost of $3.8 billion.

The Senate approved the bill unanimously and the House 339 to 12. Considered the major piece of jobs legislation in the 97th Congress, the bill provides that 70 percent of its funds be spent for permanent employment training. None of the money is available for public works jobs of the type offered under the expiring Comprehensive Employment and Training Act. But part of the funds may be used for financial assistance to some trainees, a condition that administration officials once said would cause a presidential veto.