[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 25 (Thursday, February 11, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E205]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E205]]



INTRODUCTION OF THE TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION CAPITAL INVESTMENT ACT OF 1999

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DARLENE HOOLEY

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 11, 1999

  Ms. HOOLEY of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to officially 
introduce an important piece of legislation, The Technology Education 
Capital Investment Act of 1999. In the 105th Congress, The Technology 
Education Capital Investment Act of 1997, H.R. 2994, which I 
introduced, received a great deal of support from colleagues. I hope 
that my fellow Members will be as supportive of this important piece of 
legislation in the 106th Congress.
  I am introducing this bill because I am more concerned than ever 
about the shortage of well-trained high-tech workers in our work force 
today. The Information Technology Association of America released a 
report in March that documents the shortage of information technology 
workers across the nation. The report concluded that there are about 
190,000 unfilled information-technology (computer and software 
development) jobs in the United States. Similar shortfalls have emerged 
in other technology industries as well.
  As one of the fastest growing export sectors in the economy, the 
continued expansion of the high-tech industries is critical to the 
strength of our nation's financial well being. However, if we do not 
address the significant shortages of qualified technology workers, 
including engineers, the growth of this sector will inevitably slow.
  Responding to this serious problem, I have drafted legislation that 
would stimulate technology education and increase the output of 
engineers and technology workers from United States Colleges and 
Universities. My bill would increase the authorized spending on some 
existing programs, provide funding to encourage more students to seek a 
math and science education, and extend a tax break for companies to 
help pay for expenses related to the continued education of employees.
  Specifically, the legislation creates a scholarship for students, 
entering math, science, and engineering degree programs. The bill 
establishes a one-time, start-up grant for university programs that 
offer ``hands-on'' internships with high-technology firms to higher-
education students, giving priority to those programs that are 
primarily industry-financed. It also permanently extends the ``Section 
127'' tax exemption for employer-provided educational assistance, and 
applies the exemption to graduate-level coursework.
  Furthermore, this bill increases federal support for National Science 
Foundation informal science programs that encourage math and science 
education at the K-12 levels and it augments community-college based 
programs that promote improvement in technician education, placing 
emphasis on programs for worker retraining programs. Finally, this 
legislation establishes a Congressional commission to examine the 
workforce shortages in technology industries.
  I have listened to many people in Oregon and around the country who 
are adversely affected by the shortage of qualified high-tech workers. 
I have worked hard to develop this legislation and I believe that, if 
passed, it could improve our national workforce and products help as we 
move forward into the 21st century. I hope my colleagues will join with 
me today in supporting the Technology Education Capital Investment Act 
of 1999.

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