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, related to the SEC municipal advisor requirement.

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

Bills named: H.R. 2827 (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 4348, surface transportation program reauthorization; HR 4239/HR 4348, related to extension of surface transportation programs and funding; HJ Res 117, funding for transportation.

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

Bills named: H.J.Res. 117 (112th), H.R. 402 (112th), H.R. 328 (112th), H.R. 4239 (112th), H.R. 4348 (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: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Overseas Private Investment Corp (OPIC); Energy, Dept of; U.S. Trade Representative (USTR); Federal Highway Administration (FHA); General Services Administration (GSA); Internal Revenue Service (IRS); Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM Bank); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Executive Office of the President (EOP); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Commerce, Dept of (DOC); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC); U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID); Defense, Dept of (DOD); Treasury, Dept of; State, Dept of (DOS); AMTRAK - Natl Railroad Passenger Corporation; Education, Dept of; Small Business Administration (SBA); Federal Transit Administration (FTA); SENATE; Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers)

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.

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

Bills named: H.R. 2072 (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; FY'13 Defense Authorization (S 3254/HR 4310), issues related to small business programs and A-76 process; 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: Executive Office of the President (EOP); General Services Administration (GSA); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM Bank); Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC); Treasury, Dept of; Commerce, Dept of (DOC); SENATE; Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Energy, Dept of; AMTRAK - Natl Railroad Passenger Corporation; Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); Federal Transit Administration (FTA); State, Dept of (DOS); Internal Revenue Service (IRS); Small Business Administration (SBA); Defense, Dept of (DOD); Overseas Private Investment Corp (OPIC); Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers); Education, Dept of; Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID); Federal Highway Administration (FHA); U.S. Trade Representative (USTR)

Bills named: H.R. 1309 (112th), H.R. 6430 (112th), H.R. 4310 (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: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; General Services Administration (GSA); Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); Federal Highway Administration (FHA); Small Business Administration (SBA); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); Overseas Private Investment Corp (OPIC); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); State, Dept of (DOS); Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID); Federal Transit Administration (FTA); Energy, Dept of; Education, Dept of; SENATE; Internal Revenue Service (IRS); Commerce, Dept of (DOC); Defense, Dept of (DOD); Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers); U.S. Trade Representative (USTR); Treasury, Dept of; Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM Bank); Executive Office of the President (EOP); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); AMTRAK - Natl Railroad Passenger Corporation

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

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

Roads/Highway ROD

S 1813/HR 4348, SAFETEA LU reauthorization, 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 4348, related to extension of surface transportation programs and funding; HJ Res 117, funding for transp.

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

Bills named: H.J.Res. 117 (112th), H.R. 4348 (112th), H.R. 4239 (112th), H.R. 402 (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.

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

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

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

Bills named: H.R. 5856 (112th), H.R. 5325 (112th), H.J.Res. 117 (112th), H.R. 5857 (112th), H.R. 6091 (112th), H.Con.Res. 34 (112th), H.R. 5972 (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: Internal Revenue Service (IRS); Treasury, Dept of; Overseas Private Investment Corp (OPIC); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM Bank); Federal Transit Administration (FTA); Small Business Administration (SBA); Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC); Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers); Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); Federal Highway Administration (FHA); Education, Dept of; State, Dept of (DOS); Defense, Dept of (DOD); Energy, Dept of; Commerce, Dept of (DOC); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); General Services Administration (GSA); SENATE; AMTRAK - Natl Railroad Passenger Corporation; Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Executive Office of the President (EOP); U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); U.S. Trade Representative (USTR); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Transportation, Dept of (DOT)

Bills named: H.R. 658 (112th), S. 223 (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: Treasury, Dept of; Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers); Federal Transit Administration (FTA); Internal Revenue Service (IRS); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Education, Dept of; Small Business Administration (SBA); Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM Bank); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Overseas Private Investment Corp (OPIC); Federal Highway Administration (FHA); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID); Executive Office of the President (EOP); Energy, Dept of; General Services Administration (GSA); Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Commerce, Dept of (DOC); Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); U.S. Trade Representative (USTR); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); State, Dept of (DOS); AMTRAK - Natl Railroad Passenger Corporation; SENATE; Defense, Dept of (DOD); Office of Management & Budget (OMB)

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

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

Labor Issues/Antitrust/Workplace LBR

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

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

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