[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 143 (Wednesday, September 10, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1759]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  EMPLOYEES' LETTER ON R&D TAX CREDIT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. RICHARD E. NEAL

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 10, 2008

  Mr. NEAL of Massachusetts. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of 
the Research and Development tax credit, a credit which has been 
championed here in the House by my friend and colleague, Representative 
Sander Levin. He has authored legislation to extend this important 
credit and I have joined him in this effort.
  Today, I want to highlight a letter sent to all Members of Congress 
signed by 3,400 American workers, representing 43 States and well over 
100 U.S. companies, ranging from small to large. In this letter, these 
workers in the research industry urge us to extend and strengthen the 
R&D tax credit, which expired on December 31, 2007.
  Already, the House has passed legislation to extend the R&D tax 
credit. But our Senate colleagues have been unable to do the same. As 
many of my colleagues already realize, this tax credit is like no 
other. Without this credit, much of this innovative research would 
likely migrate to other countries, many which offer their own 
incentives.
  Congress needs to enact a seamless and retroactive extension of this 
credit to ensure that these highpaying technology jobs stay in America.
  As the 3,400 workers in the R&D industry aptly stated in their letter 
to Congress:

       We write to you--from companies across the country both 
     large and small--to address an issue that we believe will 
     affect the likelihood that high-skilled jobs such as ours are 
     located in our communities and in our country.
       Simply put, we are dismayed that Congress has allowed the 
     R&D tax credit to expire. We know that most of you have 
     lauded the benefits of the credit, and we appreciate this 
     support. We urge you to act now to enact into law an 
     extension of a strengthened credit because research-dependent 
     jobs are at stake.

  I ask that this letter be included in the Record immediately 
following my comments.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to contact their counterparts in 
the Senate to demand immediate action on tax extenders. American 
workers are waiting and these jobs are simply too good to lose.

                                               September 10, 2008.
     Hon. Harry Reid,
     Majority Leader, U.S. Senate,
     The Capitol, Washington, DC.
       Dear Majority Leader Reid: Our country has always been a 
     hospitable place for invention. It is a reflection of our 
     values and ingenuity. Government policies such as the R&D tax 
     credit are expressions of our desire to innovate and create.
       We write to you--from companies across the country both 
     large and small--to address an issue that we believe will 
     affect the likelihood that high-skilled jobs such as ours are 
     located in our communities and in our country.
       Simply put, we are dismayed that Congress has allowed the 
     R&D tax credit to expire. We know that most of you have 
     lauded the benefits of the credit, and we appreciate this 
     support. We urge you to act now to enact into law an 
     extension of a strengthened credit because research-dependent 
     jobs are at stake.
       The signatures you see on this letter represent just some 
     of the tens of thousands of real people who have benefited 
     positively from the effects of the credit over the past 26 
     years. You can read studies and surveys, but we are living 
     proof that the vast majority of R&D credit dollars go 
     directly to pay the wages of highly skilled American workers.
       Between high gas prices and falling home values, it is a 
     difficult time for all Americans. As you work to boost U.S. 
     economic activity, please act quickly to reinstate and 
     strengthen a program with a track record of more than two 
     decades of success. We thank you for your commitment to our 
     country and to U.S. workers.
           Sincerely,
       Signed by 3,400 workers in the R&D industry.

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