[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 120 (Tuesday, July 17, 2018)]
[House]
[Page H6272]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     INVESTING IN AMERICAN WORKERS

  (Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I recently introduced the 
Skills Investment Act of 2018 with Congressman Derek Kilmer to allow 
American workers to invest in their own futures.
  This bill would create lifelong learning accounts workers could use 
to pay for skills-based education, career-related learning, and 
professional development. In an ever-changing economy, I know that such 
accounts would be put to good use.
  As co-chair of the bipartisan House Career and Technical Education 
Caucus, I fully support expanding access to skills-based educational 
opportunities and professional development.
  The tax treatment of these savings accounts would be similar to a 
health savings account. Mid-career workers could contribute up to 
$4,000 tax free each year, with a maximum contribution limit of 
$10,000. Employers would receive a 25 percent tax credit for 
contributions to a worker's account. Workers of all ages can use the 
account at any time to learn skills to make them more competitive as 
the economy changes.
  This bill is a commonsense approach to investing in the American 
worker. I encourage my colleagues to cosponsor it today.

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