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.

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

Roads/Highway ROD

S 1596, House draft, appropriations for transportation programs; SAFETEA LU reauthorization, issues related to funding the next surface transportation program and program structure, the continued application of 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; HR 2887. HR 328, relating to the ability of states to contract out for engineering services; HR 2887, extension of SAFETEA LU; H.Res. 5, House rules changes related to transportation funding in multi-year transportation programs.

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

Bills named: H.R. 402 (112th), H.R. 328 (112th), H.R. 2887 (112th), H.Res. 5 (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 2887, transportation funding and extension of current authorization; HR 328, relating to the ability of states to contract out for engineering services; H.Res. 5, changes to House rules governing transportation funding; continued application of QBS procedures on federal-aid projects.

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

Bills named: H.R. 328 (112th), H.R. 402 (112th), H.Res. 5 (112th), H.R. 2887 (112th)

Taxation/Internal Revenue Code TAX

Support passage of HR 674/S 89/S 164, to repeal Section 511 of PL 109-222 (3% withholding mandate); 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; comments to Treasury on implementation of Section 511 of PL 109-222; funding options to restore solvency to the Highway Trust Fund; review of Administration's Green Book; HR 1802/S 939, legislation to exclude water and sewer bonds from the state volume cap for private activity bonds; Build America Bonds; HR HR 4/S 18, to repeal expansion of IRS form 1099 for business transactions; 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.

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

Bills named: H.R. 942 (112th), H.R. 4 (112th), H.R. 674 (112th), H.R. 1802 (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: Defense, Dept of (DOD); Federal Transit Administration (FTA); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers); SENATE; Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); General Services Administration (GSA); Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Federal Highway Administration (FHA); U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC); State, Dept of (DOS); Internal Revenue Service (IRS); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Executive Office of the President (EOP); Commerce, Dept of (DOC); Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Education, Dept of; AMTRAK - Natl Railroad Passenger Corporation; Small Business Administration (SBA); Energy, Dept of; Treasury, Dept of; Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

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.

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

Budget/Appropriations BUD

HConRes 34 (FY'12 budget), 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 1596 and House Committee draft of FY'12 THUD appropriations bill, provisions related to highway and transit funding;

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

Bills named: H.Con.Res. 34 (112th)

Aviation/Airlines/Airports AVI

S. 223/HR 658, including reathorization and expansion of Airport Improvement Program and Passenger Facility Charge program, provisions to require the use of Qualifications-Based Selection to procure engineering services on PFC-funded projects; HR 2253, HR 2887, S 1387, legislation to extend FAA programs.

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

Bills named: H.R. 658 (112th), S. 223 (112th), H.R. 2253 (112th), H.R. 2887 (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 the stewardship and oversight of engineering services and contracting in the federal highway program; federal procurement issues, including the Administration's "High Roads" initiative and 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;

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

Bills named: H.R. 1309 (112th)

Energy/Nuclear ENG

Legislation to establisha Clean Energy Standard; legislation to expand interstate transmission lines for high voltage electricity; legislation to amend the Atomic Energy Act to require Congressional approval for peaceful nuclear cooperation; support for Keystone XL pipeline.

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

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.

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

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

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;

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

Bills named: H.R. 1145 (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; national infrastructure banks and provisions related to contracting for engineering/design services and funding for water infrastructure projects; 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.

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