[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 100 (Thursday, July 27, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1389]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               THE TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION AND TRAINING ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JERRY WELLER

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 27, 2000

  Mr. WELLER. Mr. Speaker, today, I am introducing a bill with Mr. 
Moran, Mr. Cox, Mr. Tauzin, Mr. Tom Davis, Mr. Drier, Mr. Adam Smith, 
Mr. Salmon and Mrs. Taucher to address the severe worker shortage in 
technology related industries. The Technology Education and Training 
Act provides a $1,500 tax credit for information technology training 
expenses.
  This tax credit is necessary to address the serious shortage in the 
United States of trained technology professionals. This shortage has a 
dramatic effect on the U.S. economy. According to the CompTIA Workforce 
Study, as a result of unfilled IT positions, the U.S. economy loses 
$105.5 billion in spending that would otherwise go to salaries and 
training. This reduces household income by $37.2 billion and prevents 
the creation of 1. 6 million jobs. Currently, an estimated 268,740 
(10%) of IT service and support positions are unfilled. This results in 
$4.5 billion per year in lost worker productivity. An ITAA study 
released April 11, 2000 predicts a shortage of 843,328 for the 1.6 
million new IT workers needed in 2000.
  The tax credit we establish in this bill would be available to both 
individuals and businesses for training and educational expenses for 
individuals being trained in technology related industries. The 
allowable credit would be $1,500. For small businesses, or businesses 
and individuals in enterprise zones, empowerment zones, and other 
qualified areas, the credit would equal $2,000. The training program 
must result in certification.
  This bill encourages a private-public sector partnership which allows 
the private sector to determine who, what, where and how to train 
workers. It also helps to fill the IT worker pipeline with thousands of 
new and retrained IT skilled workers which would otherwise leave 
thousands of jobs in cities across America unfilled.
  Mr. Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to speak on behalf of The 
Technology Education and Training Act.

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