[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 21 (Wednesday, February 14, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E186]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               INTRODUCTION OF THE TEACHER TAX CREDIT ACT

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                          HON. ROBERT C. SCOTT

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 14, 2001

  Mr. SCOTT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the bipartisan 
``Teacher Tax Credit Act'' which gives a $1,000 tax credit to eligible 
public school teachers to defray qualified costs for classroom 
expenses, professional development expenses, and interest paid on 
certain education loans. A similar bill, S. 225, has been introduced in 
the Senate by my Virginia colleague Senator John Warner.
  I think that most people would agree that America's teachers did not 
enter the profession because they thought that the pay would be good. 
They teach for far more altruistic reasons: to educate our children and 
make a lasting difference in their lives. I'm sure that every one of us 
can remember at least one teacher who changed our lives for the better.
  Despite the important role that teachers play in our children's 
lives, elementary and secondary school teachers remain underpaid, 
overworked, and all too often under-appreciated. Many teachers spend 
significant amounts of their own money on expenses that improve our 
children's education, both directly and indirectly. Teachers often 
spend their own money to buy learning materials for their classrooms 
such as books, supplies, pens, paper, and even computer equipment. They 
also have professional development expenses that indirectly benefit our 
children by insuring that they will be taught by qualified, competent 
people who know the latest teaching techniques.
  All of these expenses benefit students in the classroom either 
through better classroom materials or through better teachers, and that 
which benefits America's students benefits all of us. Why do our 
teachers have to spend their own money on things that benefit all of 
us? Simply put, because current school budgets are not adequate to meet 
the costs of educating our children. Our teachers have stepped in to 
fill the gap with their own money.
  Current tax law provides that teachers can deduct some of these 
expenses. There are several impediments to using this deduction, 
however, that result in few teachers actually realizing any benefit: 
teachers must itemize their returns, classroom and professional 
development deductions have to exceed 2 percent of their incomes, and 
student loan interest is deductible only for the first 60 months after 
graduation and is subject to an income phase-out.
  In order to better help teachers defray these costs, I am introducing 
this bill with my good friend and Virginia colleague, Senator John 
Warner, who is the primary sponsor for this legislation in the Senate. 
Our bill would ensure that qualifying teachers would not have to 
itemize their deductions or exceed the 2 percent floor to receive the 
credit. Teachers would not be phased out of the student loan interest 
benefit based on income level, and there would be no 60 month 
limitation.
  We all agree that our education system must leave no child behind. As 
we try to achieve this goal through strengthening and reforming our 
educational system, we must keep in mind their most important 
component--the teachers.

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