[JURIST] The US House of Representatives [official website] late Wednesday approved a job-training bill that would allow faith-based organizations which receive federal funds to consider the religious beliefs of prospective employees. The vote on HR 27, the Job Training Improvement Act of 2005 [text, PDF], was 224-200 [House roll call], largely along party-lines. Under current law, faith-based organizations must obey the 1964 Civil Rights Act [text] which prohibits discrimination in hiring or firing. The House earlier had rejected an amendment which would have removed the religious-based employment language from the bill. The White House supported the passage of the bill saying, "receipt of federal funds should not be conditioned on a faith-based organization's giving up a part of its religious identity and mission." Opponents of the bill say that by allowing consideration of religion in employment decisions, the government is sponsoring discrimination. The bill, which is a reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 [text] which provides training programs for adults and dislocated workers, now goes to the Senate. The bill's prospects are uncertain with Democrats objecting to cuts in programs and the religious discrimination provision. The Los Angeles Times has more.