Congress passes student loans, highway jobs bill - WKOW 27: Madison, WI Breaking News, Weather and Sports

WASHINGTON (WKOW) -- Congress passes a bill that will salvage some 2.8 million jobs and keep the student loan rate from rising. The bill would also shore up the federal flood insurance program.

The Senate and the House approved the bill Friday. It now goes to the White House for President Barack Obama's signature.

The measure would prevent interest rates on student loans from doubling, which was scheduled to go into effect on Sunday. The bill would also spend more than $100 billion on highway and transit programs over two years.

Congress dropped a requirement that the government approve the contentious Keystone XL pipeline from the measure.