Congressman Sander Levin

Global Competitiveness

I firmly believe that at a time of ever increasing globalization, America’s prosperity depends more than ever on its capacity for innovation and having a globally competitive workforce. 

Several recent studies including one by the National Academy of Sciences argue that the U.S. is falling behind in math, science, and engineering, three areas critical to continuing product development in the manufacturing sector. In addition, employers are finding it difficult to recruit employees with necessary job skills. 

To help meet this challenge, I have introduced the Employee Educational Assistance Act of 2007 to make permanent a provision of the tax code that allows employers to offer educational assistance for both graduate and undergraduate programs up to a maximum of $5,250 on a pre-tax basis.  This critical assistance is offered by almost 71% of employers to help their employees obtain additional skills to advance their careers.

More broadly, the new Democratic majority has made enhancing America’s global competitiveness a top priority.  Congress recently approved, and the President has signed, omnibus innovation and competitiveness legislation, the America COMPETES Act. This legislation would boost investment in critical science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields and make a sustained commitment to promoting research and development.

Specifically, the legislation strengthens teachers’ training in STEM fields and would provide scholarships to encourage more students studying in STEM areas to teach in our nation’s schools. The bill also encourages young scientists to remain in research through the creation of several new grants to promote their research early on in their careers.

Levin’s dear colleague in support of the Employee Educational Assistance Act of 2007

National Academy of Science’s “Rising Above the Gathering Storm”