A bill that would provide an incentive to companies that invest in training programs designed to increase the IT skills of their workers was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday.

The "Technology Education and Training Act (TETA) of 2001" provides a tax credit to companies to train workers in IT and would help reduce the number of IT jobs that go unfilled, its sponsors say. A Senate version of the bill was introduced in April. The tax credit could be applied against income tax toward the first US$1,500 a business spends to train an individual worker. It would increase to $2,000 per individual for small business or if the training program offered by the business is located in a specially designated area, including existing Empowerment Zones. These zones are depressed areas that have been designated by the government to receive special tax treatment and other incentives to spur economic development.

Representatives Jerry Weller, a Republican from Illinois, and Jim Moran, a Democrat from Virginia, announced the introduction of TETA in the House at a conference hosted by the National Association of Computer Consultant Businesses.

The bill would also amend special tax credits for existing training programs so employees could better access IT training courses.