CompTIA Hails House Introduction of IT Training Tax Credit Bill.

Business Editors

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 20, 2004

"TRAIN Act" will help US workers get the IT skills they need to

compete with the world

At a Capitol Hill briefing hosted by the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) today, CompTIA hailed US House introduction of the TRAIN Act by Representative Jerry Weller (R-IL) and other congressional leaders. According to CompTIA, the bill will facilitate greater training and re-skilling opportunities through a tax credit for qualified information and communications technology (ICT) training, helping American workers and the companies that employ them stay more competitive here and abroad.

"TRAIN represents R&D for the American worker," noted Representative Jerry Weller. "Retraining and ongoing development of ICT skills across all sectors of our economy is a must. Yet the tools that drive our knowledge-based economy are constantly evolving. TRAIN puts workers on the right track toward being productive, competitive and at the forefront of our global, information economy by increasing the opportunities for US workers - employed and displaced - to get the ICT training they need."

Increasingly, Americans compete with the world's laborers for jobs. Aided by cheap, powerful and ubiquitous technology, some of these jobs, such as software programmers, computer scientists, and call center operators, have moved overseas where the locale's skilled labor can give companies a comparative advantage over their competitors. The TRAIN Act works to buttress the underlying training and re-skilling framework needed to keep Americans in ICT-dependent jobs, enhancing opportunities for US, ICT-skilled workers in present-day, new and emerging industries.

More specifically, the bill works to provide a tax credit - of up to $5,000 - on qualified expenses used for technology-related training. The credit can be used by employed and unemployed workers, as well as employers. And, importantly, the credit can be applied to a broad range of programs, from vocational and/or private certification courses, to related college expenses, too.

"Businesses spend over $70 billion a year training employees, ensuring they have the skills needed to pump out the products and services the world desires," stated Martin Bean, Chair of CompTIA's US public policy committee, and COO of New Horizons Computer Learning Centers, Inc. "ICT skills are today's raw materials, not unlike lumber, bricks and steel. They're the infrastructure America needs to keep the US on top. Perpetuating a culture of updated and dynamic skill sets is the best way to stay employed, and, where displacements occur, reduce the time lost searching for the next job."

The BLS estimates that by 2012, nearly 22 million new jobs, such as in transportation, biotech, healthcare and communications, will be created in America. At the same time, however, a significant portion of our aging workforce will be retiring. Consequently, the US needs to be ready to fill these jobs with Americans who can cost-effectively work in ICT-dependent settings. "The pipeline has to be primed now," added Bean. "American workers are no longer the presumptive leaders just because they're American. TRAIN will help Americans fill these jobs, many of which can and will be competed for by foreign, ICT-skilled laborers."

"America must have an ever-vibrant and responsive workforce. That's the end goal here," noted Representative Weller. "Where this can happen, workers have the tools to remain employed and employable, and companies have the human resources to meet global consumer demand while creating jobs here at home. I urge my colleagues to hop on this TRAIN that will help the US stay competitive with the world."

About CompTIA

CompTIA is a global trade association representing the business interests of the information technology industry. For more than 22 years CompTIA has provided research, networking and partnering opportunities to its more than 19,000 members in 89 countries. The association is involved in developing standards and best practices, and influencing the political, economic and educational arenas that impact IT worldwide. More information is at www.comptia.org.