CONGRESS PASSES FAMILY LEAVE BILL; CLINTON PLANS TO SIGN IT TODAY.(Main)

Byline: ADAM CLYMER New York Times

The Senate gave President Clinton his first legislative victory Thursday night, passing the family leave bill to guarantee some workers up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for medical emergencies.

The measure was approved in a 71-27 vote.

Clinton plans to sign the bill this morning to make the political point that domestic legislation, stalemated during the Bush administration, would now pour forth because Democrats control both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue.

The House, which passed a similar bill late Wednesday night, moved toward passage of the Senate version Thursday to allow the bill to go to the White House. It had to take a second vote because the Senate bill included a statement about homosexuals in the military.

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