[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 2 (Friday, January 5, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E27]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    INTRODUCTION OF THE TECHNOLOGY RETRAINING AND INVESTMENT NOW ACT

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                           HON. JERRY WELLER

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, January 5, 2007

  Mr. WELLER of Illinois. Madam Speaker, as we move further into the 
21st Century, I continue to have deep concerns over the need to 
maintain America's competitive edge as we continue to grow our Nation's 
economy.
  As the U.S. economy becomes more dynamic, the types of growing 
industries are also changing. Increasingly new jobs in many fields 
require the application of technology skills. These include workers 
across all industry sectors, not just in the IT industry sector.
  In order to keep up with the rapid rate of technological changes, 
expanded information technology (IT) skills education and training in 
many industries is essential to create a more effective and productive 
workforce and remain both domestically and globally competitive.
  In recognition of the growing importance of information technology 
skills to the competitiveness of the U.S. workforce there needs to be 
greater awareness on the importance of increased investment in worker 
IT education and training
  That's why I am introducing the Technology Retraining And Investment 
Now Act (TRAIN Act), a bill that will improve opportunities for 
America's workforce in an ever-changing world.
  The TRAIN Act would provide a tax credit for an amount equal to 50% 
of information and communications technology training (ICT) program 
expenses paid or incurred by the taxpayer for the benefit of: an 
employee of the taxpayer; or, an individual who is not employed on up 
to $10,000 per year. Expenses may include payments in connection with: 
course work, certification testing and other expenses that are 
essential to assessing skill acquisition.
  This tax credit is necessary because technology skills are 
increasingly important to workers in more and more industries. It is no 
longer just the software programmers who create the technology, but 
increasingly engineers, machinists, architects, call center workers and 
many others who must continuously upgrade their skills in the use of 
the ever-changing tools of technology if they are to remain competitive 
in an increasingly global and service-oriented workforce market.
  Just as the research and development tax credit helps companies make 
continuous investments in new product development, today a 
complimentary human resources technology development tax credit is now 
equally necessary to assure that there is a continuous investment in 
the technology skills of the U.S. workforce so it is competitive in the 
new worldwide economy.

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