Sen. Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersMcConnell accuses Democrats of sowing division by 'downplaying progress' on election security The Hill's Campaign Report: Arizona shifts towards Biden | Biden prepares for drive-in town hall | New Biden ad targets Latino voters Why Democrats must confront extreme left wing incitement to violence MORE (I-Vt.) is vowing to invest $1 trillion to fight the “crisis of unemployment,” largely by boosting access to job training.

“You want a radical idea? Maybe if we invest in education and jobs rather than jails and incarceration,” Sanders said at a presidential forum on social issues, which was also attended by former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley.

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Sanders said the money would be given to the “communities that need it the most,” both rural and urban, prompting roaring applause from the audience.

“We are talking about addressing the crisis of youth unemployment and unemployment in general,” Sanders said. “It is more important for our kids to have jobs and an education than to be hanging out on street corners.”

Sanders was referring to a massive infrastructure bill that he introduced in the Senate last July. That plan, he has said, would modernize the country's physical infrastructure while creating "13 million good-paying jobs."

He argued that not every education needs to end with a college degree, and that there should be job training programs for careers of every range.

In Sanders' wide-ranging speech Saturday, he also vowed to offer universal healthcare, expand Social Security and "take on fossil fuel industry."

Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton did not attend, and her absence was noticed by the audience, who chanted "Where is Hillary?" at one point.