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

Roads/Highway ROD

S 1813/HR 7, SAFETEA LU reauthorization, issues related to funding surface transportation program and program structure, 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 4239/HR 4281, related to extension of surface transportation programs and funding.

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

Bills named: H.R. 7 (112th), H.R. 4239 (112th), H.R. 402 (112th), H.R. 4281 (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; S 1813/HR 7, surface transportation program reauthorization; HR 4239/HR 4281, related to extension of surface transportation programs and funding.

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

Bills named: H.R. 7 (112th), H.R. 402 (112th), H.R. 328 (112th), H.R. 4281 (112th), H.R. 4239 (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; 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.

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

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

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.

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

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 1596 and HR 2112, FY'12 THUD appropriations bill, provisions related to highway and transit funding; HR 2055, report language to encourage contracting out by the Corps of Engineers.

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

Bills named: H.Con.Res. 34 (112th), H.R. 2055 (112th), H.R. 2112 (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;

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

Bills named: H.R. 658 (112th), S. 223 (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; issues related to agnecy performance of infrastructure work without engineering oversight/involvement; limiting "in-sourcing" by federal agencies and competition for third party work; issues related to small business programs, including HR 3850, HR 3851, HR 3893, HR 3980, HR 3985, HR 3987, HR 4081, HR 4118, HR 4121, HR 4203, and HR 4206.

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

Bills named: H.R. 1309 (112th), H.R. 4121 (112th), H.R. 3851 (112th), H.R. 3893 (112th), H.R. 4206 (112th), H.R. 3985 (112th), H.R. 4081 (112th), H.R. 4118 (112th), H.R. 3987 (112th), H.R. 3980 (112th), H.R. 4203 (112th), H.R. 3850 (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.

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

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

Labor Issues/Antitrust/Workplace LBR

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

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

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

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

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; 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.

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