FYI: The U.S. House began action on its Workforce Investment Act reauthorization bill yesterday, passing its version out of committee to the floor. The House bill contains much of the Bush administration’s proposal for renewing the 1998 law, the most controversial provision of which is switching its funding to one large block grant. Currently states get three different types of funding, for tailored job-training programs. Democrats and some workforce development advocates have criticized this move, arguing that it undermines the tailored-training concept and pits different groups against one another in competition for funds. The House bill also focuses the basic skills jobs programs for adults on math, reading and writing. [3/28/03]