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Volume XXIII,
Number 15
April 30,
2002
The Month In Review
1015 15th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20005
202-347-7474
Fax
202-898-0068
www.acec.org
E-mail acec@acec.org
Ellen
Mullally, Editor
Francis George, Production Manager
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ACEC Means
Business
ACEC Member Chosen To Lead Virginia
DOT Philip Shucet, executive vice president with Michael Baker Corp., has
been chosen by Virginia Gov. Mark Warner (D) to lead the Virginia
Department of Transportation (VDOT). Shucet was chosen over 125 other
candidates in a nationwide search. Warner called Shucet the "clear choice" to lead the agency, noting that
he brings the "best of public- and private-sector experience" to VDOT
which has 10,000 employees and an annual budget of $3.2 billion. Warner
expressed confidence in Shucet’s ability to revamp the department and
improve its
management. Included with this month’s Last Word is a complimentary copy of
ACEC’s Market Watch, a new monthly bulletin providing key economic
trends and market developments that impact the design industry. In this
issue: GSA’s 2003 building program; status of capital spending in the
states; and $24 billion in Olympics 2008 projects. Subscribe today by
contacting ACEC’s Publications Department (202-347-7474, publications@acec.org). Receive a free subscription to ACEC’s Market Watch with your annual
enrollment to ACEC’s Market Forecast Series, held the first Thursday of
every month. Join us at ACEC Headquarters in Washington, D.C., or log on
as a teleconference participant to find out more about opportunities for
your firm. Thomas Anglim, director of project management services for the
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), will be the headliner May 2 at 12
p.m. EDT. The June 6 event will feature David Price, program manager for
transportation security at the Federal Highway Administration. Go to http://www.acec.org/
meetmein/seminars/mfs.pdf to register and for more
information.
ACEC is kicking off two human resources (HR) seminars.
Unlocking the Potential of Human Resources: An Interactive Seminar for Principals and CEOs gives firm leaders insight into the benefits and methods used to energize the HR function. The seminar is being held on May 31 in Chicago and June 3 in Philadelphia. For information on the seminar, contact Roger Doucette (rdoucette@acec.org, 202-682-4330).
Human Resources: The Art of Compensation and Transition is designed for HR directors and administrators. There are eight dates and locations to choose from. Click here for a complete list or contact Anna Johnson (ajohnson@acec.org or 202-682-4349).
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Goddard: "Strength Through Unity;" 31 MOs Adopt New Name
"ACEC is the only, and I repeat only, trade association that improves the business climate for each of our firms. To be successful in an increasingly challenging business environment, we derive strength from unity in message, name and image. We need to have the public and, more importantly, policymakers and our clients, see a cohesive federation." Goddard expressed gratification that the name change was being adopted by ACEC’s MOs on an expedited basis. Thirty one MOs have made the change to date with seven in transition. He further suggested that ACEC government advocacy and business programs, which have made great strides, now require "strong PAC giving by members to achieve the next level of success. Passage of ACEC’s ambitious legislative agenda is going to require us to bring to bear a strong, unified national association, backed by a strong political action effort."
House Passes ACEC-Backed Tax Package The House has passed legislation (H.R. 586) to make permanent the tax changes enacted last year. ACEC led the industry coalition that was instrumental in obtaining passage of the package—including tax reductions for individuals and businesses—and is now calling on Congress to make those reductions, which will expire at the end of 2010, permanent. ACEC and others in the business community argue that the tax package has and will continue to help stimulate the economy in the short term, as well as assure more durable growth in the long term. Small business owners and entrepreneurs will receive 79 percent of the tax benefits with the reduction in the top income tax rates. Nearly 75 percent of the 30.5 million taxpayers with income from flow-through entities (i.e., owners of sole proprietorships, partnerships, and S corporations) will receive a tax reduction. "Many of ACEC’s members are small businesses that are now benefiting from the tax changes enacted into law last year," said President Dave Raymond. "It is vitally important that Congress take action to make sure these benefits continue." House Committee Passes ACEC-Endorsed Streamlining Bill; Considers ExPDITE Proposal The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has passed legislation that would streamline the environmental review process for airport projects. The Airport Streamlining Approval Process Act of 2002 (H.R. 4481) aims to reduce airport delays and congestion by directing the Federal Aviation Administration to promote runway expansions and other projects that would increase airport capacity. "This legislation is urgently needed," said ACEC President Dave Raymond, who last year testified before the Aviation Subcommittee in support of these reforms. "It is now incumbent on both the House and the Senate to pass it as soon as possible." The committee is also circulating draft legislation that reflects ACEC’s priorities to expedite the environmental review process for transportation projects in general. The bill addresses many of the complaints that ACEC had about the implementing regulations proposed by the Federal Highway Administration in May 2000. Known as the Expediting Project Delivery to Improve Transportation and the Environment Act (ExPDITE), the proposal would grant transportation agencies greater authority over the review process to reduce delays in moving needed transportation projects forward. ACEC is working with committee staff to build support for the ExPDITE legislation. The committee is expected to introduce the proposal later this year, although it may be folded into the TEA-21 reauthorization bill in 2003. ACEC/PAC Wants You In Las Vegas! ACEC/PAC will have a major presence at next month’s Annual Convention in Las Vegas. The PAC is hosting a golf tournament on Saturday, May 11, at Badlands Golf Club.
Thank You to Platinum Sponsor Parsons Brinckerhoff and our other corporate sponsors: DPIC Companies, Collinsworth, Alter, Nielson, Fowler & Dowling, Inc., HDR, and HNTB. ACEC/PAC needs additional sponsors and auction items to make these events a success. Corporate sponsors will have their name and logo featured prominently at all of the ACEC/PAC events. Auction donors will receive special recognition during the auction. Contact Susan Doyle (202-347-7474 or sdoyle@acec.org) for more information. White House Responds Favorably To ACEC’s "Good Samaritan Proposal" ACEC representatives recently met with White House staff to discuss the administration’s tort reform agenda. Specifically, ACEC asked for the president to support "Good Samaritan" legislation to protect engineers from liability when responding to emergency events. In the days following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, many engineering firms rushed forward to assist in the rescue and recovery efforts. In providing such services, they opened themselves to the possibility of substantial liability exposure. The White House responded favorably to ACEC’s request. The Council is presently developing draft legislation to submit to the president and his staff for review. The following editions of the Last Word are available online. To retrieve a particular issue, choose the date from the listing below, and click "Submit" |
