Earnest Istook, Jr. (R-Okla.)

Oklahoma is now the 44th member organization of ACEC to change its name—from the Consulting Engineers Council of Oklahoma, to the American Council of Engineering Companies of Oklahoma (ACEC/Oklahoma).

And New York—the birthplace almost 100 years ago of what eventually became the American Council of Engineering Companies—is now the 45th ACEC member organization to announce it has adopted the national name.

Rep. Ernest Istook (R-Okla) said, "The common name will reinforce the strong relationship between the state and national organizations, and enable me to better represent the interests of Oklahoma’s engineers."

Congresswoman Sue Kelly (R-NY) said, "By adopting the common brand name with the national organization, New York engineering firms will enhance their voice in Congress at a critical time."

Airport Infrastructure Funding To $4 Billion In House And $3.6 Billion In Senate

The House approved a $59 billion bill (H.R. 2115) to reauthorize the activities of the Federal Aviation Administration over the next four years. The bill, titled "Flight 100 — Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act," increases annual funding for airport infrastructure from the current level of $3.4 billion to $4.0 billion by F.Y. 2007.

The Senate passed its version of the AIR-21 reauthorization bill (S. 824), a three-year, $43.5 billion measure that increases funding for airport infrastructure from the current level of $3.4 billion to $3.6 billion in F.Y. 2006.

Both measures contain ACEC-backed environmental streamlining provisions to expedite airport capacity projects.

With bills passed in both chambers, chances of passing an AIR-21 reauthorization package this year are brighter. ACEC will push for maximum funding and continued inclusion of environmental streamlining provisions in the final version of the bill.

Health Legislation Benefits ACEC Members

From left to right, ACEC Chairman Eric Flicker, Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio), and ACEC President Dave Raymond discuss AHP legislation.

Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio), chairman of the House Education & the Workforce Committee, and strong proponent for AHP legislation said, "The bill addresses both the access and cost issues at the heart of the healthcare reform debate."

The advantage to ACEC member firms is lower cost due to a common set of national standards provided by the legislation, rather than higher costs resulting from the current different standards for individual states that have to be followed.

ACEC’s Chairman Eric Flicker and President Dave Raymond met with Boehner moments after his committee acted on the legislation, and pledged continued support in getting the bill through Congress.

Debate on the legislation will now move to the Senate, where identical legislation has been introduced by Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME). The Senate bill, S. 545, is expected to meet stiffer opposition than its counterpart in the House.

ACEC and its coalition allies will now press for the legislation in the Senate. ACEC members are urged to contact their Senators for their support. For a sample letter, go to www.acec.org/publications/lastword/s545_supportltr.html.

New Threats To Outsourcing

Jerry Stump ACEC Transportation Committee Chairman

Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick (D-MI), introduced H.R. 1980, which creates road blocks to outsourcing for any federally-aided project exceeding $100,000. A version of the Kilpatrick bill is expected to be offered as an amendment when legislation to reauthorize TEA-21 comes up later this year.

ACEC government advocacy efforts are aimed at key committee leaders to assure this legislation is defeated.

"This legislation is lousy public policy and a clear attempt to stop outsourcing," said ACEC Transportation Committee Chairman Jerry Stump.

The Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior has also introduced an anti-outsourcing provision for the F.Y. ‘04 Interior Appropriations bill. The provision prohibits all agencies within the Department of Interior from moving forward with the Administration’s competitive sourcing plan.

ACEC is working with the Bush Administration and industry allies to have this anti-outsourcing language removed.

ACEC/Minnesota Fights "Reverse Auctions"

Under the reverse auction process, an agency collects bids from potential providers. The bids are posted for all competitors to view, and engineering firms are encouraged to submit new bids in a drive to find the lowest price.

ACEC national is working with ACEC/MN to overcome the implementation of the reverse auction provision. The Council has also successfully prevented similar efforts at the federal level.

Support ACEC’s Candidate At FIDIC In Paris ACEC International Committee Chairman, Gregs Thomopulos, has been nominated for a position on the FIDIC Executive Committee, a position crucial to the promotion of the interests of ACEC members doing business internationally. FIDIC is the international association of the consulting engineering industry. Members are encouraged to join the ACEC delegation in Paris to support Thomopulos at the FIDIC 2003 Annual Conference, September 7-10. The conference features lectures, workshops and seminars on international business practice, as well as social programs and tours. Register online at www.fidic2003.net.

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