http://www.newsbytes.com/news/01/171912.html By Staff, Newsbytes WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 06 Nov 2001, 4:58 PM CST A bill introduced in the House in late September that would offer companies tax breaks for buying biometrics and other cyber-security devices has been holding fast at the committee level since its unveiling. Introduced by Rep. Jerry Weller, R-Ill., the Securing America Investment Act of 2001, H.R. 2970, allows businesses to write off "qualifying" security devices for the fiscal year that the devices are actually put into service. Qualifying devices, according to the bill, include electronic access control, biometric identification and closed-circuit television or surveillance systems, as well as computers and software used to try to put the brakes on cyber-terrorism. The bill, if passed into law, would apply to the last quarter of fiscal year 2001 and following fiscal years. Co-sponsors include Reps. Phil Crane, R-Ill., Joseph Crowley, D-N.Y., Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., and C.L. "Butch" Otter, R-Idaho. The bill was referred to the House Ways and Means Committee, but in light of the waning congressional year, and the large amount of appropriations bills not yet passed, as well as the backload of legislation stemming from the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and the subsequent Capitol Hill anthrax scare, the bill at this point either will languish until next year, or potentially be included in a larger appropriations package. Weller has been one of the leading proponents of increased computer and IT equipment depreciation rates, as well as other corporate tax breaks for high-tech equipment. He succeeded in getting language in this area included in the House-passed version of the economic stimulus package. That bill now will go up against equivalent Senate legislation, but many of the House tax break provisions could falter under the Democrat-led Senate's scrutiny. Democrats in the Senate have been pressing for more government spending to aid in U.S. economic recovery, while the Republican minority and the House-passed legislation focus more on tax breaks. Reported by Newsbytes.com, http://www.newsbytes.com - ISN is currently hosted by Attrition.org To unsubscribe email majordomoat_private with 'unsubscribe isn' in the BODY of the mail.
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