Progress Seen on NDN, Larson Effort to Provide Free Computer Training to American Workforce

The bill, based on a proposal from our own Dr. Robert Shapiro that would offer free computer training to all Americans through the nation's community colleges and introduced by House Democratic Caucus Chair John Larson, H.R. 2060 The Community College Technology Access Act of 2009, continues to gain momentum. The bill is growing stronger in the House of Representatives, as it now has 34 cosponsors and has been referred to the House Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness. The cosponsors are:

Rep Blumenauer, Earl [OR-3]
Rep Bordallo, Madeleine Z. [GU]
Rep Castle, Michael N. [DE]
Rep Costello, Jerry F. [IL-12]
Rep Edwards, Donna F. [MD-4]
Rep Ehlers, Vernon J. [MI-3]
Rep Grayson, Alan [FL-8]
Rep Grijalva, Raul M. [AZ-7]
Rep Gutierrez, Luis V. [IL-4]
Rep Hare, Phil [IL-17]
Rep Himes, James A. [CT-4]
Rep Honda, Michael M. [CA-15]
Rep Kennedy, Patrick J. [RI-1]
Rep Kilpatrick, Carolyn C. [MI-13]
Rep Langevin, James R. [RI-2]
Rep Markey, Betsy [CO-4]
Rep Matsui, Doris O. [CA-5]
Rep McGovern, James P. [MA-3]
Rep McIntyre, Mike [NC-7]
Rep Miller, Brad [NC-13]
Rep Murphy, Patrick J. [PA-8]
Rep Napolitano, Grace F. [CA-38]
Rep Pierluisi, Pedro R. [PR]
Rep Polis, Jared [CO-2]
Rep Reyes, Silvestre [TX-16]
Rep Ros-Lehtinen, Ileana [FL-18]
Rep Ross, Mike [AR-4]
Rep Roybal-Allard, Lucille [CA-34]
Rep Sablan, Gregorio [MP]
Rep Schwartz, Allyson Y. [PA-13]
Rep Sestak, Joe [PA-7]
Rep Sires, Albio [NJ-13]
Rep Smith, Adam [WA-9]
Rep Wu, David [OR-1]

It's a great bill, and we applaud Chairman John Larson for his leadership in building a 21st century economic agenda for America by ensuring that our workers have the tools to compete in the interconnected era of globalization.