THE AMERICAN COUNCIL OF ENGINEERING COMPANIES for AMERICAN COUNCIL OF ENGINEERING COMPANIES

Financial Institutions/Investments/Securities FIN

Submmitted comments to Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) on revenue recognition from contracts, as well as leases; Submitted comments and met with with the SEC on implementation of the municipal advisor registration requirement in the Dodd-Frank financial services reform law; submitted comments to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board on the proposed fiduciary duty of municipal advisors; HR 2827 and S 3620, related to the SEC municipal advisor requirement.

Contacted: Defense, Dept of (DOD); Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; State, Dept of (DOS); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); Energy, Dept of; Government Accountability Office (GAO); General Services Administration (GSA); Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM Bank); Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers); Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC); Treasury, Dept of; Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Small Business Administration (SBA); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Executive Office of the President (EOP); Commerce, Dept of (DOC); Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); AMTRAK - Natl Railroad Passenger Corporation; Internal Revenue Service (IRS); Federal Transit Administration (FTA); Overseas Private Investment Corp (OPIC); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); Education, Dept of; Federal Highway Administration (FHA); SENATE; Office of Management & Budget (OMB); U.S. Trade Representative (USTR); U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)

Bills named: H.R. 2827 (112th)

Health Issues HCR

P.L. 111-148 (health care reform), provisions related to employer mandates, financing provisions, public plan option, medical malpractice liability reform, and association-based health insurance options; implementation of provisions related to the grandfathering of existing health plans; HR 1744, repeal of the employer mandates penalties.

Contacted: Treasury, Dept of; Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Education, Dept of; Executive Office of the President (EOP); Federal Transit Administration (FTA); Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Government Accountability Office (GAO); U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC); Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); State, Dept of (DOS); Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers); Federal Highway Administration (FHA); Overseas Private Investment Corp (OPIC); Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM Bank); Internal Revenue Service (IRS); Small Business Administration (SBA); SENATE; Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); Defense, Dept of (DOD); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); General Services Administration (GSA); Commerce, Dept of (DOC); Energy, Dept of; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; AMTRAK - Natl Railroad Passenger Corporation; U.S. Trade Representative (USTR); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS)

Bills named: H.R. 1744 (112th)

Foreign Relations FOR

Use of US engineering firms in aid programs administered by US AID and the Millennium Challenge Corportation; raising the importance of infrastructure investment in US foreign aid programs, more emphasis on cross planning in implementing aid programs, use of qualified design professionals and use of US engineering firms; oversight of multilateral development banks and projects using US funds; HR 2072, Ex-Im bank reauthorization; HR 3159/S 3310, performance goals for aid programs.

Contacted: Energy, Dept of; Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); General Services Administration (GSA); Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); Federal Highway Administration (FHA); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Small Business Administration (SBA); Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); Overseas Private Investment Corp (OPIC); Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC); U.S. Trade Representative (USTR); State, Dept of (DOS); Defense, Dept of (DOD); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Executive Office of the President (EOP); Education, Dept of; Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Treasury, Dept of; SENATE; Commerce, Dept of (DOC); AMTRAK - Natl Railroad Passenger Corporation; Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM Bank); U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID); Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers); Federal Transit Administration (FTA); Government Accountability Office (GAO); Internal Revenue Service (IRS); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA)

Bills named: H.R. 3159 (112th), H.R. 2072 (112th)

Budget/Appropriations BUD

HConRes 34 (FY'13 budget) and S 365, provisions related to infrastructure funding; encouraging the use of US firms for infrastructure design and construction activities funded by US taxpayers in developing countries; provisions related to funding for DOE Environmental Management program; S 2322 and HR 5972, FY'13 THUD appropriations bill, provisions related to highway and transit funding; Defense appropriations (HR 5856), provisions related to military construction; Energy & Water appropriations (HR 5325/S 2465), provisions related to Corps of Engineers funding; State/Foreign Operations appropriations (HR 5857/S 3241), provisions related to the use of US engineering firms in developing countries; HR 6091, provisions related to funding for the state revolving fund programs for water/wastewater; S 3301, Financial Services and General Gov't Appropriations, provisions related to the use of contractor employees for performing functions closely associated with inherently governmental functions for GSA; HJ Res 117, continuing resolution, funding for various federal infrastructure programs; HR 152, Disaster Relief Appropriations, as well as the Frelinghuysen amendment to HR 152.

Contacted: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); Government Accountability Office (GAO); Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); U.S. Trade Representative (USTR); General Services Administration (GSA); U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID); Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC); Executive Office of the President (EOP); AMTRAK - Natl Railroad Passenger Corporation; Commerce, Dept of (DOC); Defense, Dept of (DOD); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM Bank); Small Business Administration (SBA); Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); Energy, Dept of; Overseas Private Investment Corp (OPIC); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Internal Revenue Service (IRS); Education, Dept of; SENATE; Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Federal Highway Administration (FHA); Federal Transit Administration (FTA); State, Dept of (DOS); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Treasury, Dept of

Bills named: H.R. 5856 (112th), H.R. 5972 (112th), H.J.Res. 117 (112th), H.R. 5325 (112th), H.R. 6091 (112th), H.R. 152 (112th), H.R. 5857 (112th), H.Con.Res. 34 (112th)

Aviation/Airlines/Airports AVI

Monitored implementation of new FAA reathorization law, expansion of Airport Improvement Program and Passenger Facility Charge program and provisions encouraging the use of Qualifications-Based Selection to procure engineering services on PFC-funded projects;

Contacted: Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Commerce, Dept of (DOC); Education, Dept of; Defense, Dept of (DOD); Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Treasury, Dept of; Energy, Dept of; U.S. Trade Representative (USTR); Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); Overseas Private Investment Corp (OPIC); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); AMTRAK - Natl Railroad Passenger Corporation; Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); State, Dept of (DOS); Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); SENATE; Federal Highway Administration (FHA); Executive Office of the President (EOP); Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM Bank); Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC); U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID); Small Business Administration (SBA); Government Accountability Office (GAO); General Services Administration (GSA); Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers); Federal Transit Administration (FTA); Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

Immigration IMM

Pending legislative proposals to expand the number of available H-1B visas each year, green cards and to exempt STEM graduate degree recipients from visa caps, including HR 3012, HR 5893, S 3185, S 3192, S 3217 and HR 6429.

Contacted: Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); SENATE; Transportation, Dept of (DOT); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Defense, Dept of (DOD); Overseas Private Investment Corp (OPIC); AMTRAK - Natl Railroad Passenger Corporation; Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); Commerce, Dept of (DOC); Government Accountability Office (GAO); State, Dept of (DOS); Internal Revenue Service (IRS); Small Business Administration (SBA); Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM Bank); Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Education, Dept of; Energy, Dept of; Federal Highway Administration (FHA); General Services Administration (GSA); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Treasury, Dept of; Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers); Executive Office of the President (EOP); U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID); Federal Transit Administration (FTA); U.S. Trade Representative (USTR); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Bills named: H.R. 6429 (112th), H.R. 3012 (112th), H.R. 5893 (112th)

Education EDU

Fundng for student loan forgiveness program authorized in P.L. 110-315 for people employed in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) professions; comments to the Department of Education during rulemaking process to implement loan forgiveness program authorized under P.L. 110-315; S 1597, education facility and repair.

Contacted: Internal Revenue Service (IRS); AMTRAK - Natl Railroad Passenger Corporation; Government Accountability Office (GAO); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Treasury, Dept of; Small Business Administration (SBA); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); General Services Administration (GSA); Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Executive Office of the President (EOP); Commerce, Dept of (DOC); Federal Highway Administration (FHA); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID); Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers); Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Education, Dept of; Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); State, Dept of (DOS); Defense, Dept of (DOD); U.S. Trade Representative (USTR); Overseas Private Investment Corp (OPIC); Federal Transit Administration (FTA); SENATE; Energy, Dept of; Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM Bank); Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Torts TOR

HR 1145, to provide "good samaritan" liability relief for architect and engineering firms responding in a voluntary capacity to natural disasters; liability protection for engineering firms engaged in levee certifications; addressing the increased costs of infrastructure due to liability issues and the need for protection in high consequence events; legislation to provide liability protections to emergency responders.

Contacted: Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM Bank); Commerce, Dept of (DOC); Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); Education, Dept of; Federal Highway Administration (FHA); AMTRAK - Natl Railroad Passenger Corporation; Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Small Business Administration (SBA); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Executive Office of the President (EOP); Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Energy, Dept of; State, Dept of (DOS); Treasury, Dept of; U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID); Overseas Private Investment Corp (OPIC); Defense, Dept of (DOD); Internal Revenue Service (IRS); SENATE; Government Accountability Office (GAO); General Services Administration (GSA); Federal Transit Administration (FTA); Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC); U.S. Trade Representative (USTR)

Bills named: H.R. 1145 (112th)

Roads/Highway ROD

Highway program funding; implementation of changes to surface transportation program and program structure in MAP-21; QBS procedures for procuring engineering services on federal projects; funding options to restore solvency to the Highway Trust Fund; HR 402, national infrastructure bank and provisions related to contracting and procurement for engineering services and funding for transportation projects; HJ Res 117, funding for transp.

Contacted: AMTRAK - Natl Railroad Passenger Corporation; Government Accountability Office (GAO); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Defense, Dept of (DOD); Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM Bank); Education, Dept of; General Services Administration (GSA); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Executive Office of the President (EOP); Federal Highway Administration (FHA); U.S. Trade Representative (USTR); Energy, Dept of; U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); Overseas Private Investment Corp (OPIC); Commerce, Dept of (DOC); Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); State, Dept of (DOS); Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); Internal Revenue Service (IRS); SENATE; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Federal Transit Administration (FTA); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Treasury, Dept of; Small Business Administration (SBA); Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers)

Bills named: H.R. 402 (112th), H.J.Res. 117 (112th)

Transportation TRA

HR 402, national infrastructure bank and provisions related to contracting for engineering services, funding for transportation projects; Highway Trust Fund solvency issues; HR 328, relating to the ability of states to contract out for engineering services; continued application of QBS procedures on federal-aid projects; surface transportation program implementation under MAP-21; HJ Res 117, funding for transportation; comments on FHWANPRM on consultant services.

Contacted: Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC); State, Dept of (DOS); Overseas Private Investment Corp (OPIC); General Services Administration (GSA); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Transportation, Dept of (DOT); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Energy, Dept of; Treasury, Dept of; Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM Bank); U.S. Trade Representative (USTR); AMTRAK - Natl Railroad Passenger Corporation; Education, Dept of; Federal Highway Administration (FHA); Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Commerce, Dept of (DOC); Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); Federal Transit Administration (FTA); Internal Revenue Service (IRS); Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers); Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); SENATE; Government Accountability Office (GAO); Small Business Administration (SBA); Defense, Dept of (DOD); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID); Executive Office of the President (EOP)

Bills named: H.R. 328 (112th), H.R. 402 (112th), H.J.Res. 117 (112th)

Taxation/Internal Revenue Code TAX

Promote passage of legislation to preserve cash accounting option for engineering firms; Section 199 of the tax code; tax treatment of S Corps; tax rates for corporations and individuals; HR 942, to make the R&D tax credit permanent; funding options to restore solvency to the Highway Trust Fund; review of Administration's Green Book; impact of tax reform on pass-through entities; legislation related to the use of private activity bonds for water projects. HR 1802/S 939, legislation to exclude water and sewer bonds from the state volume cap for private activity bonds; extension of bonus depreciation and small business expensing; infrastructure financing, including modifications to highway user fees; extension of the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts; comments to Treasury Department on changes to the tax treatment of trial lawyer fees; promote extension of Production Tax Credit for renewable energy; HR 8 (fiscal cliff legislation), Section 179D (energy efficient buildings).

Contacted: Treasury, Dept of; Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Federal Transit Administration (FTA); Education, Dept of; Overseas Private Investment Corp (OPIC); Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers); Executive Office of the President (EOP); Internal Revenue Service (IRS); General Services Administration (GSA); State, Dept of (DOS); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Defense, Dept of (DOD); Federal Highway Administration (FHA); Energy, Dept of; Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); AMTRAK - Natl Railroad Passenger Corporation; Commerce, Dept of (DOC); Government Accountability Office (GAO); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID); U.S. Trade Representative (USTR); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; SENATE; Small Business Administration (SBA); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM Bank); Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC)

Bills named: H.R. 1802 (112th), H.R. 8 (112th), H.R. 942 (112th)

Government Issues GOV

Issues related to the audit on engineering firm overhead performed by the Office of the Inspector General at USDOT; issues related to oversight of engineering services and contracting in the federal highway program, including FHWA rulemaking on consultant services; federal procurement issues, including definitions of inherently governmental and critical functions; Defense Authorization Act, contracting changes; small business set asides/contracting; HR 1309, provisions related to the Thomas Amdt; contractor reporting requirements; use of GSA schedules by State Department and local, tribal governments; small business size standards; identification of regulatroy barriers/hurdles to economic growth; issues related to agency performance of infrastructure work without engineering oversight/involvement; limiting "in-sourcing" by federal agencies and competition for third party work; FY'13 Defense Authorization (S 3254/HR 4310), issues related to small business programs, A-76 process and employee compensation; S 1940, provisions related to Section 211 of WRDA 2000; HR 6430, related to GSA inventory and personnel; S 3512, provisions related to engineering certification and inspection by independent registered engineers, groundwater monitoring, and liability.

Contacted: Small Business Administration (SBA); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); Commerce, Dept of (DOC); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Federal Highway Administration (FHA); Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM Bank); SENATE; U.S. Trade Representative (USTR); Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); Energy, Dept of; Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); Government Accountability Office (GAO); Treasury, Dept of; Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); State, Dept of (DOS); Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC); Defense, Dept of (DOD); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Federal Transit Administration (FTA); Executive Office of the President (EOP); AMTRAK - Natl Railroad Passenger Corporation; Education, Dept of; Office of Management & Budget (OMB); General Services Administration (GSA); Overseas Private Investment Corp (OPIC); U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID); Internal Revenue Service (IRS); Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers)

Bills named: H.R. 6430 (112th), H.R. 4310 (112th), H.R. 1309 (112th)

Energy/Nuclear ENG

Legislation to require regional planning and siting for interstate transmission lines for high voltage electricity; support for legislation to approve the Keystone XL pipeline; support for legislation to extend the production and investment tax credits for renewable energy projects; Section 179D related to energy efficient projects.

Contacted: Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); State, Dept of (DOS); Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM Bank); Executive Office of the President (EOP); Treasury, Dept of; U.S. Trade Representative (USTR); U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID); AMTRAK - Natl Railroad Passenger Corporation; Overseas Private Investment Corp (OPIC); General Services Administration (GSA); Education, Dept of; Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Federal Highway Administration (FHA); Government Accountability Office (GAO); Defense, Dept of (DOD); Commerce, Dept of (DOC); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Energy, Dept of; Internal Revenue Service (IRS); SENATE; Small Business Administration (SBA); Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); Federal Transit Administration (FTA); Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC)

Labor Issues/Antitrust/Workplace LBR

Support SJ Res 36 to overturn the NLRB "ambush election" rule.

Contacted: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); State, Dept of (DOS); Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); Federal Transit Administration (FTA); Small Business Administration (SBA); Overseas Private Investment Corp (OPIC); General Services Administration (GSA); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Energy, Dept of; Commerce, Dept of (DOC); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); Treasury, Dept of; Office of Management & Budget (OMB); AMTRAK - Natl Railroad Passenger Corporation; Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Education, Dept of; Federal Highway Administration (FHA); U.S. Trade Representative (USTR); Executive Office of the President (EOP); Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); Defense, Dept of (DOD); SENATE; U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID); Government Accountability Office (GAO); Internal Revenue Service (IRS); Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM Bank); Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA)

Bills named: S.J.Res. 36 (112th)

Clean Air and Water (quality) CAW

Legislation to reauthorize and expand the Clean Water and Safe Drinking Water SRF programs, provisions to apply QBS to SRF-funded projects; the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act; Legislation establishing a water trust fund program; legislation lifting volume caps on private activity bonds for water projects; Water Resources Development Act, including funding, contracting out, and levee liability; EPA reg reform; S 3525, provisions related to infrastructure resiliency;

Contacted: Commerce, Dept of (DOC); Government Accountability Office (GAO); Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); SENATE; Education, Dept of; Federal Transit Administration (FTA); Executive Office of the President (EOP); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM Bank); Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers); Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Treasury, Dept of; Defense, Dept of (DOD); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Small Business Administration (SBA); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); General Services Administration (GSA); Overseas Private Investment Corp (OPIC); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Energy, Dept of; Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID); AMTRAK - Natl Railroad Passenger Corporation; Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Internal Revenue Service (IRS); Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC); Federal Highway Administration (FHA); State, Dept of (DOS); U.S. Trade Representative (USTR)