The House passed H.R. 27 yesterday by a vote of 224-200 to revamp the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA). The vote was primarily along party lines with a few exceptions. Eight Republicans voted with the Democrats against the bill and 4 Democrats voted with the Republicans for the bill. H.R. 27 would combine job-training funds for adults, dislocated workers, and employment services into a single state block grant and provide Governors with new discretion to distribute funds. It also includes language to establish Personal Reemployment Accounts (PRAs) for unemployed workers. An amendment offered by Rep. Robert Scott (D-Virginia) to strike controversial language allowing faith-based organizations to consider the religious beliefs of job applications failed by a vote of 186-239. This provision and the PRAs could be challenged in the Senate.