Thursday, February 9, 2012

Rep. Larson To Unveil Tech Training Bill

April 22, 2009

House Democratic Caucus Chairman John Larson is slated to introduce the Community College Technology Access Act on Thursday, which will provide free computer training through the nation's community colleges so that workers can improve their IT skills and become more competitive during tough economic times. The Connecticut lawmaker's bill would give the Secretary of Education the authority to distribute grants to eligible community colleges that have computer labs and commit to opening their labs for 30 hours each week on weeknights and weekends, according to a summary of the legislation. It would also require that an instructor is present to provide training during those hours and that lab instruction is free and open to the public.

About $125 million would be authorized annually with grant amounts to be determined by the secretary. Each recipient school would have to report on the costs, hours of operation and number of individuals utilizing the service. Larson's legislation is based on a proposal developed by Dr. Rob Shapiro, chair of the New Democrat Network's Globalization Initiative, to use community colleges as technology hubs and efficient, cost-effective training grounds for the U.S. workforce. In July 2007, NDN and Shapiro released a major report, "Tapping the Resources of Community Colleges: A Modest Proposal to Provide Universal Computer Training." Larson and Shapiro will host a briefing on the bill at 3 p.m. on the terrace of the Cannon House Office Building at the corner of Independence Avenue and New Jersey Avenue.

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Juliana Gruenwald

Tech Writer

E-Mail: jgruenwald@nationaljournal.com.


Juliana Gruenwald has been covering tech and telecom issues for more than a decade for National Journal, Interactive Week, BNA and Congressional Quarterly. This is her second stint with National Journal. She was recruited by NJ in 1998 to help launch its first tech policy publication, Technology Daily. She left in 2000 to cover international tech and telecom issues for Ziff Davis Media's Interactive Week magazine. She started her career at United Press International as the wire service's first Helen Thomas Intern. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Minnesota. A Minneapolis native, she misses the lakes but not the cold.


Josh Smith

Tech Reporter

E-Mail: joshsmith@nationaljournal.com.


Josh Smith covers technology policy as a staff reporter for National Journal. He previously interned at National Journal Daily, a Senate press office, and the Deseret News in Salt Lake City where he covered the state legislature, courts, and crime. In 2009 he graduated with honors from Southern Utah University after managing an award-winning student newspaper as editor-in-chief. Josh has received state, regional and national awards for his political and policy reporting, including first place in CapitolBeat’s 2009 Best of Statehouse Reporting college competition. A native of drop-dead-gorgeous Utah, Josh lives in Virginia with his wife, Amber.