WASHINGTON -- Congress approved and sent to President Clinton last night a compromise bill that gives tax breaks to business in exchange for a two-step, 90-cent increase in the $4.25 hourly minimum wage.

As Congress prepared to recess for the month, the House passed the Small Business Job Protection Act, 354-72. All New England House members voted in favor of the bill. The first 45-cent increase in the minimum wage -- the first increase in the national base wage in five years -- takes effect on Oct. 1, the second on Sept. 1, 1997.