U.S. IEEE Member Inspires Congressional Action

by Russ Harrison

On 9 July, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a must-pass appropriations bill that allocates $2 million for an independent study of the effects of offshore outsourcing on the economy and employment in the United States. Such a study would provide policy-makers with objective information about the current extent of work force globalization in technology-based industries, its impact on U.S. labor markets, and employment opportunities for engineers and scientists.

Some of the credit for the study should go to Ron Hira, chair of IEEE-USA's Career and Workforce Policy Committee. Hira is increasingly recognized as a national expert on the offshoring of high-tech jobs. This past spring, during an online interview with the Washington Post, he characterized the U.S. Department of Commerce's ongoing $335,000 offshoring study as being too limited to provide the kind of information that Congress really needs.

Representative Frank Wolf (R-Va.), who chairs the House subcommittee that provides appropriations for the Commerce Department, read the interview and asked IEEE-USA to arrange a meeting with Hira. At the meeting,  Hira described some of the adverse effects offshoring is having on engineers and other high-tech workers in the United States. He also suggested that a successful study would be more complicated and more costly than the ongoing effort.

After meeting with Wolf, Hira collaborated with IEEE-USA on a letter outlining important topics to be covered in a comprehensive study. Subsequently, Rep. Wolf added language authorizing a comprehensive offshoring study to the House version of a FY 2005 Commerce, State and Justice Departments appropriations bill. In an accompanying statement of congressional intent, Wolf explained his reasons for augmenting the study appropriation in terms that reflect, in part, Hira's recommendations.

The Senate is expected to take up its own version of the Commerce, Justice, State appropriations bill after Congress returns from its August recess. IEEE-USA is working with Senate leaders to ensure that the Wolf offshoring study provision is included in whatever appropriations bill goes to the President for approval in September.

Russell T. Harrison is IEEE-USA's Legislative Representative for Grassroots Activities. He can be contacted at r.t.harrison@ieee.org.