[NLA] Three noteworthy items from DC today

[Gullion, Christy]

I thought you all might be interested in three items "in the news" today.

Hearing on TANF and WIA --

The Senate Subcommittee on Employment, Safety and Training, chaired by
Senator Paul Wellstone (D-MN), held a hearing today on the intersections
between TANF and WIA.  It was a very interesting hearing with a very
different tone than many of the House hearings I've attended on the topic of
TANF reauthorization.  Unfortunately, the Subcommittee has not provided
electronic copies of the written testimony, but I do have hard copies.
Senator Wellstone's office announced the hearing through a press release
yesterday that you can read at
http://wellstone.senate.gov/jobtraining3.html.  

I was really impressed with the interest expressed by the members of the
committee.  Senator Wellstone, in particular, seemed interested in how to
improve WIA so that TANF and WIA programs and funding streams are better
coordinated.  In his written statement, Senator Wellstone states "we want to
focus on the intersections between WIA and TANF -- workforce development and
welfare -- and how both of these programs can be made to work better --
together -- to provide meaningful training to workers currently caught in a
cycle of poverty."  Senator Wellstone also expressed his desire to explore a
number of policy issues related to TANF and WIA at today's hearing,
including (according to his written statement):

"1.  How can we better align WIA and TANF outcome measures and performance
criteria to promote greater coordination between these programs in the
provision of career path training to low-skill, low-wage workers?
2.  What are the pro's and con's of making TANF a mandatory partner in
Workforce Investment Act implementation?
3.  What are the benefits of clarifying that WIA-approved activities satisfy
TANF work requirements?
4.  How do 'work first' policies affect the provision of career path
training to low-skill, low-wage workers?
5.  Would career-path training to all workers be aided by the more
simultaneous provision of core, intensive, and training services under WIA?
6.  Do current WIA incentives create a bias against training for low-skill,
low-wage workers?
7.  What is the role of transitional jobs programs in providing career path
training that meets the needs of employers and workers?  Are there other
creative approaches we should consider supporting?"

In his concluding remarks, Senator Wellstone expressed the "need to begin to
think about how to make more meaningful investments in programs and services
that provide individuals with the skills and resources they need to succeed
in the labor market.  This means thinking about how the current system can
be made to work better, what we can add to improve it, and how we can serve
those individuals who are often overlooked by the system entirely.  I hope
that today's hearing is the first of a series of conversations we will have
as we begin thinking about just these issues."

First Meeting of the National Literacy Panel
The US Department of Education sponsored the first meeting of the National
Literacy Panel today at the Center for Applied Linguistics offices in
Washington, D.C.  According to the Department's press announcement, the
panel is "composed of well-known scholars, who will identify, assess, and
synthesize the literacy research knowledge base related to the education of
language minority children and youth."  The panel will "produce a
comprehensive report that evaluates and synthesizes the research literature
and provides research-based recommendations to guide educational practice
and inform educational policy."  You can read the press release at
http://www.ed.gov/PressReleases/05-2002/05142002.html.

Financial Literacy Initiative Announced by US Departments of Education and
Treasury
US Department of Education Secretary Paige and US Treasury Department
Secretary O'Neill today announced a joint financial literacy effort.  In a
statement prepared by the Treasury Department, Secretary Paige states "we
are pleased to announce today that the department intends to make up to
$250,000 available to a coalition of organizations working to promote
financial literacy among our nation's students."  Additionally, they
announced they would pool their resources to develop a financial education
curriculum for US schools, beginning with joint development of a white paper
summarizing the effective methods and opportunities for integrating
financial education at schools. O'Neill and Paige met today with education
groups to discuss ways in which the Treasury and Education departments can
work with them to promote the integration of financial education concepts
into core curriculum in U.S. schools.  You can read more about this
initiative at http://www.ustreas.gov/press/releases/po3104.htm.

Christy Gullion
Associate Director for Federal Policy
National Institute for Literacy
1775 I Street, NW, Suite 730
Washington, DC  20006-2417
ph. (202) 233-2033 
fax (202) 233-2050

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