Tax Credit Proposed

A bill introduced May 9 in the House of Representatives would allow businesses or employees to take up to $1,500 in tax credits for expenses incurred in high-tech training programs, and a $2,000 credit for small businesses or all companies in enterprise zones or empowerment zones. A companion bill was introduced April 24 in the Senate.

Reps. Jerry Weller, R-Ill., and Jim Moran, D-Va., announced the introduction of the Technology Education and Training Act of 2001 at a Washington conference hosted by the National Association of Computer Consultant Businesses.

Grant Mydland, director of the Technology Workforce Coalition, applauded the legislation and urged Congress to pass it. The coalition was created by the Computing Technology Industry Association and the IT Training Association in 1999 to advocate federal and state solutions to address the IT worker shortage.