Congressman Mike Simpson E-Newsletter Volume 4, 2007

Press Release

Congressman Mike Simpson E-Newsletter Volume 4, 2007

Congressman Mike Simpson demonstrated his strong support for education, teachers and Idaho Schools when he joined colleagues in passing two important pieces of education legislation. H.R. 362, 10,000 Teachers, 10 Million Minds, Science and Math Scholarship Act and H.R. 363, the Sowing the Seeds Through Science and Engineering Research Act, both demonstrate the importance of math and science education as well as Congress' commitment to America's future in these areas.

"It's easy for most of the world to know what they will be doing in ten to twenty years; it is what America is doing right now," said Simpson. "Our future is unknown and in order to maintain our innovative edge, we just
give teachers and students the resources they need to excel in math and science."

H.R. 362, 10,000 Teachers, 10 Million Minds, Science and Math Scholarship Act authorizes programs to improve U.S. math, science, and engineering education at all levels. These programs will develop and provide teacher training, attract math and science majors to teaching, and improve undergraduate math, science and engineering courses.

"Council on Competitiveness, National Academy of Sciences, Micron Technology and other high-tech companies agree that we need to emphasize the importance of strengthening science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education in the U.S. to ensure that the nation's workforce can compete globally," said Simpson. "The passage of these bills will help us reach this goal." H.R. 363, Sowing the Seeds Through Science and Engineering Research Act, requires the Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) to carry out a program of awarding grants to scientists and engineers at the early stage of their careers. Students must be attending institutions of higher education in the United States or at certain research organizations to conduct research in fields relevant to the mission of the NSF.

The Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program will be designated as the mechanism for awarding the grants.

The Department of Energy (DOE) will carry out a similar program and the Director will be required to transmit a report on efforts to recruit and retain young scientists and engineers at DOE laboratories.

The bill also directs the President to periodically present the Presidential Innovation Award to individuals who develop one or more unique scientific or engineering deas in the national interest.

As taxpayers across America filed and paid their income taxes this month, Congressman Mike Simpson cited an alternative to the complicated formulas and obscure rules that cause confusion, fear and procrastination.

Simpson is cosponsoring legislation that would force Congress to quit talking the issue to death and get on with the job of making the Internal Revenue Code simple, transparent and fair.

The Tax Code Terminations Act terminates the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 after December 31, 2010, except for selfemployment taxes, Federal Insurance Contributions Act taxes, and Railroad Retirement taxes. The bill, H.R. 510, was introduced in January and already has 81 cosponsors.
"The IRS plays a much too prominent role in the everyday lives of America's taxpayers," Simpson said. "This legislation would help end that unwelcome intrusion and put a stop to a tax system that leaves too many working families confused, angry, and over-taxed," Simpson said.

H.R. 510 declares that any new federal tax system should be a simple and fair system that:
(1) applies a low rate to all Americans;
(2) provides tax relief for working Americans;
(3) protects the rights of taxpayers and reduces tax collection
abuses;
(4) eliminates the bias against savings and investment;
(5) promotes economic growth and job creation; and
(6) does not penalize marriage or families.

It also would require that the new federal tax system be approved by Congress in its final form by July 4, 2010.

Congressman Simpson is also supportive of H.R. 411, the Tax Relief for Families Act that makes the "Bush Tax Cuts' permanent:. They include:
* Child Tax Credit
* Marriage Penalty Relief
* College Tuition Deduction
* State and Local Sales Tax Deduction
* School Teacher Expense Deduction
* Repeal of the Estate Tax

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