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

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

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

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

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

Bills named: H.R. 7 (112th), H.R. 4281 (112th), H.R. 4239 (112th), H.R. 402 (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: U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID); Small Business Administration (SBA); Commerce, Dept of (DOC); Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Federal Highway Administration (FHA); Energy, Dept of; Education, Dept of; State, Dept of (DOS); Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); Executive Office of the President (EOP); Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers); Internal Revenue Service (IRS); SENATE; AMTRAK - Natl Railroad Passenger Corporation; Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Overseas Private Investment Corp (OPIC); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Treasury, Dept of; Federal Transit Administration (FTA); Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); General Services Administration (GSA); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Defense, Dept of (DOD); Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM Bank); U.S. Trade Representative (USTR)

Bills named: H.R. 402 (112th), H.R. 4239 (112th), H.R. 7 (112th), H.R. 4281 (112th), H.R. 328 (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: Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM Bank); Education, Dept of; Executive Office of the President (EOP); Federal Highway Administration (FHA); Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC); SENATE; U.S. Trade Representative (USTR); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID); Overseas Private Investment Corp (OPIC); Small Business Administration (SBA); Treasury, Dept of; General Services Administration (GSA); AMTRAK - Natl Railroad Passenger Corporation; Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Internal Revenue Service (IRS); State, Dept of (DOS); Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Commerce, Dept of (DOC); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); Federal Transit Administration (FTA); Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers); Energy, Dept of; Defense, Dept of (DOD); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS)

Bills named: H.R. 1802 (112th), H.R. 942 (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: Energy, Dept of; State, Dept of (DOS); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Federal Transit Administration (FTA); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Federal Highway Administration (FHA); General Services Administration (GSA); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); U.S. Trade Representative (USTR); SENATE; Small Business Administration (SBA); Defense, Dept of (DOD); Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers); Executive Office of the President (EOP); AMTRAK - Natl Railroad Passenger Corporation; Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Internal Revenue Service (IRS); Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC); Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); Commerce, Dept of (DOC); Treasury, Dept of; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID); Education, Dept of; Overseas Private Investment Corp (OPIC); Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM Bank); 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; oversight of multilateral development banks and projects using US funds.

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

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

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

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

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

Bills named: H.R. 4121 (112th), H.R. 1309 (112th), H.R. 3985 (112th), H.R. 4118 (112th), H.R. 4081 (112th), H.R. 3851 (112th), H.R. 4206 (112th), H.R. 3893 (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: Education, Dept of; Small Business Administration (SBA); State, Dept of (DOS); General Services Administration (GSA); U.S. Trade Representative (USTR); Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); Commerce, Dept of (DOC); SENATE; Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Energy, Dept of; Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Treasury, Dept of; Internal Revenue Service (IRS); AMTRAK - Natl Railroad Passenger Corporation; Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC); Overseas Private Investment Corp (OPIC); Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM Bank); Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Executive Office of the President (EOP); Federal Highway Administration (FHA); Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Defense, Dept of (DOD); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); Federal Transit Administration (FTA); Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); 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.

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

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

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

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