This year’s Engineering Excellence Awards (EEA) Gala on March 12 will feature a special patriotic tribute to those ACEC members who suffered fatalities on Sept. 11 and those who participated in the relief, recovery and infrastructure security efforts at Ground Zero the Pentagon, and throughout the United States. The entire congressional leadership has agreed to serve as honorary co-chairs of the EEA Gala, and President Bush has also been invited to participate.

Companies being specially recognized include Washington Group International and Langan Engineering and Environmental Services–both suffered tragic losses–and Thornton Tomasetti Engineers, responsible for overseeing engineering operations at Ground Zero. Thornton Tomasetti will receive an award on behalf of all firms involved in recovery and infrastructure security efforts throughout the United States.

"The EEA Gala is always a memorable evening as we recognize engineering’s finest," said ACEC Chairman Steve Goddard. "However, this year’s event will be extra special as we honor ACEC members involved in the tragedies, as well as those throughout the nation who are undertaking the important job of enhancing our infrastructure security. All members are encouraged to attend this special patriotic tribute."

In a related item, The Infrastructure Security Partnership (TISP)—a federally sponsored organization including ACEC that was created following the terrorist attacks to offer technical support and comment on public policy related to the security of the nation’s built environment—will hold a signing ceremony on March 11 at ACEC’s Federal Markets Conference held in conjunction with Consulting Congress Day (CCD) and the EEA Gala.

Go to https://www.acec.org/Events/esa.pdf for complete information on the EEA Gala, the Federal Markets Conference or CCD, or call Susan Doyle (CCD), Roger Doucette (FMC), Daisy Nappier (EEA competition), or Susan Courtney (EEA Gala) at 202-347-7474.

ACEC met earlier this week with the Republican and Democratic staff of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to discuss the transportation budget for F.Y. 2003. The marching orders we received were clear—secure cosponsors for H.R. 3694 and S. 1917, the bipartisan legislation introduced last week that would restore highway funding to, at a minimum, the level authorized in TEA-21 for 2003 ($27.75 billion) and would allow additional funds to be appropriated.

As we reported earlier, the administration’s budget proposal allocates $24.1 billion for FHWA, including $23.2 billion for the federal-aid Highway Obligation Limitation, which is below the funding level authorized in TEA-21 for F.Y. 2003, and the F.Y. 2002 funding level ($31.8 billion). The reduction in funding is due to the fact that gas tax receipts are expected to fall nearly $5 billion short of original estimates in 2003.

Congress is expected to take up a budget resolution in March—possibly at the same time (the week of March 11) our members will be in town for Consulting Congress Day (CCD), the Federal Markets Conference and the Engineering Excellence Awards (EEA) Gala. If we can help to secure large numbers of cosponsors for the two bills, we send a strong message to the leadership in the House and the Senate to restore transportation funding.

The Department of Labor (DoL) is interested in ACEC’s bill (H.R. 3678) to protect member companies from unfair and costly enforcement actions under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The bill, championed by ACEC Chairman Steve Goddard, was introduced last week by Rep. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.). It would amend the FLSA "to clarify the exemption from the minimum wage and overtime compensation requirements of that Act for certain construction engineering and design professionals."

The House has passed the Shays-Meehan campaign finance reform bill, which would prohibit so-called "soft money" donations to campaigns and political parties and regulate third-party issue-ads sponsored by corporations, unions and advocacy groups. The Senate has already passed nearly identical legislation introduced by Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Russ Feingold (D-Wisc.).

The new restrictions included in this legislation have raised free speech concerns among business and advocacy groups, as well as fairness issues with regard to the bill’s coverage of advocacy efforts by the business community and organized labor. The recent Enron collapse has added fuel to the reform movement. The Bush administration has signaled its willingness to sign a reform bill into law, although it is withholding any formal expressions of support until a final bill emerges from Congress.

The Department of Defense (DoD) has agreed to directly convert 15 percent of its federal positions (approximately 70,000) by 2004 as part of a Bush administration initiative to improve the performance of federal agencies. DoD initially opposed the directive, but has come around after a meeting with officials from the Office of Management and Budgets.

Under the Administration’s plan, DoD and the other agencies are able to determine which positions they will open to competition. The agencies are also given flexibility in determining whether positions will be directly converted to the private sector or federal employees will be able to compete. It is unclear how the Pentagon’s decision will affect the outsourcing plans of the military, although it is expected that ACEC member firms will witness an increased number of engineering and related professional services at DoD open to private firms.