Promoting Electrotechnology Careers and Public Policy

November 1, 1999

The Honorable William V. Roth, Jr.
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Re: Expiring Tax Incentives for Private Sector Investments
in Continuing Education and Research and Development

Dear Senator Roth:

Thank you for your leadership and determined efforts to include incentives for continuing education and training and corporate investments in research and development in S. 1792, the Tax Relief Extension Act, as passed by the Senate on October 29^th.

Employer-Provided Educational Assistance

A temporary extension of the $5250 income tax exclusion for employer-provided educational assistance (and restoration of the expired exclusion for graduate-level courses) will enable more Americans to remain on the cutting edge of new technologies and ensure their continuing employability in today’s knowledge-based, global economy.

Research and Development

Similarly, the R&D tax credit is a major incentive for the private sector research that helps American business maintain its leadership position in the development and commercialization of new technologies.

Your continuing support will be needed to ensure that both of these incentives are included in the conference report on this important legislation.

Sincerely,

Paul J. Kostek
President

IEEE-USA promotes the professional careers and technology policy interests
of more than 225,000 U.S. members of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.

(Note:  This letter was sent to all members of the Senate Finance Committee
for their consideration in anticipation of the conference with the House on S.1792)

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers - United States of America
1828 L Street, N.W., Suite 1202, Washington, DC 20036-5104
Office: (202) 785-0017 * Fax: (202) 785-0835 * E-mail: ieeeusa@ieee.org

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Last Update: Nov. 1, 1999
Staff Contact:  Vin O'Neill, v.oneill@ieee.org