29 U.S.C. § 2701: Findings

In an increasingly competitive world economy, the companies and nations that lead in the rapid development, commercialization, and application of new and advanced technologies, and in the high-quality, competitively priced production of goods and services, will lead in economic growth, employment, and high living standards. While the United States remains the world leader in science and invention, it has not done well in rapidly making the transition from achievement in its research laboratories to high-quality, competitively priced production of goods and services. This lag and the unprecedented competitive challenge that the United States has faced from abroad have contributed to a drop in real wages and living standards. Companies that are successfully competitive in the rapid development, commercialization, application, and implementation of advanced technologies, and in the successful delivery of goods and services, recognize that worker participation and labor-management cooperation in the deployment, application, and implementation of advanced workplace technologies make an important contribution to high-quality, competitively priced production of goods and services and in maintaining and improving real wages for workers. work with private companies, States, worker organizations, nonprofit organizations, and institutions of higher education to ensure the development, application, production, and implementation of new and advanced technologies to promote the improvement of workers’ skills, wages, job security, and working conditions, and a healthy environment; encourage worker and worker organization participation in the development, commercialization, evaluation, selection, application, and implementation of new and advanced technologies in the workplace; and promote the use and integration of new and advanced technologies in the workplace that enhance workers’ skills. In working with the private sector to promote the technological leadership and economic growth of the United States, the Federal Government has a responsibility to ensure that Federal technology programs help the United States to remain competitive and to maintain and improve living standards and to create and retain secure jobs in economically stable communities. The Secretary of Commerce shall conduct a review of existing public and private high-tech workforce training programs in the United States. Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act [ Oct. 17, 2000 ], the Secretary of Commerce shall submit a report to Congress setting forth the findings of the study conducted under subsection (a).” The existence and extent of age discrimination in the information technology workplace. promotion and advancement; working hours; telecommuting; salary; and stock options, bonuses, and other benefits. The relationship between rates of advancement, promotion, and compensation to experience, skill level, education, and age. Differences in skill level on the basis of age. Not later than October 1, 2000 , the Director of the National Science Foundation shall submit to the Committees on the Judiciary of the United States House of Representatives and the Senate a report containing the results of the study described in subsection (a).”