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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2019 - 2020
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | February 14, 2019 10:25 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Kate A. Klunk |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | PA 529 College Savings Program |
| In the near future, I will be re-introducing a resolution urging Congress to pass legislation that will make apprenticeships more affordable for individuals seeking a skills-based education. Currently, the PA 529 College Savings Program applies to qualified college expenses like tuition, books, room and board and other learning technologies and allows families to finance education tax free. However, due to federal restrictions these plans do not always provide help to those seeking careers in the trades. Pennsylvanians need the ability to save for the education and training specific to 21st century jobs, whether they are enrolled in college, attending a short-term training program or getting a license or credential for a specific trade or industry. In 2018, Pennsylvania families saved more than $585 million to use toward future education expenses—the highest amount of annual contributions in the history of the PA 529 College and Career Savings Program. H.R. 3395 and S. 1822 introduced in the US House and US Senate respectively during the 2017-2018 session would have enabled individuals enrolled in apprenticeship programs to use earnings from a federally-approved 529 college savings plan to purchase tools and equipment. This important legislation would have allowed families who have saved responsibly through 529 programs to also finance their student’s materials needed to learn a trade. As manufacturing in Pennsylvania continues to expand, the need for skilled labor will continue to rise. I often hear from my local manufacturers about the challenge of finding skilled labor as an entire generation begins to retire. Federal legislation would go a long way to help with this challenge. Please join me in urging Congress to give parents and these students more resources to pay for apprenticeship programs. Previous co-sponsors include: KLUNK, SOLOMON, FEE, RYAN, CUTLER, CONKLIN, PICKETT, JAMES, MURT, SCHLOSSBERG, STAATS, CHARLTON, NEILSON, BERNSTINE, MILLARD, A. DAVIS, R. BROWN, CALTAGIRONE, J. McNEILL, LONGIETTI, BARBIN, SAYLOR, SCHWEYER, KEEFER, WARD, MACKENZIE, ORTITAY, MARSICO, SCHLEGEL CULVER, B. MILLER, HILL-EVANS, DRISCOLL, D. COSTA, MOUL and SIMMONS |
Introduced as HR110