ACEC/PAC Events Target Key Transportation Leaders As Funding Debate Continues Rep. Jim Oberstar (D-MN) ACEC/PAC co-hosted industry fundraisers for key players in the TEA-21 reauthorization debate this week, underscoring the major role the PAC plays in supporting the Council's advocacy agenda in Congress. On Tuesday, ACEC teamed with the American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) in co-hosting a fundraiser for Rep. Jim Oberstar (D-MN), the senior Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The Minnesota lawmaker is playing a crucial role in crafting the final reauthorization package, and continues to be a major advocate for greater investment in transportation infrastructure. Sen. Kit Bond (R-MO) Later that same day, ACEC and several member firms hosted a luncheon fundraiser for Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Don Young (R-AK). Chairman Young also seeks the maximum funding level in the final conference report, and continues to work for the completion of a six-year bill before Congress adjourns this year. ACEC/PAC is teaming with a number of state organizations to host fundraisers across the nation for pivotal House and Senate supporters. ACEC/PAC teamed with ACEC of Missouri to host a successful fundraiser for Senator Kit Bond (R-MO), who chairs the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee in the Senate. ACEC/PAC also recently co-hosted an affair in Washington, D.C. for Rep. Jim Gerlach (R-PA), a member of the House Transportation Committee. Fundraisers also are planned for Rep. Tom Davis (R-VA), Chairman of the House Government Reform Committee, Rep. Jim DeMint (R-SC), who is running for the Senate seat of retiring Senator Fritz Hollings (D-SC), and Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX). The Davis and DeMint events take place July 20 in Washington, and the Sessions fundraiser takes place August 12 in Dallas. Additional events are being planned for Senator Harry Reid (D-NV), Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS), Rep. Tom Reynolds (R-NY), and Rep. Hal Rogers (R-KY). For more information on these events, or to support ACEC/PAC, please contact Jenny Sheffield at 202-347-7474 or via email at jsheffield@acec.org.

ACEC Leads Fight Against Anti-Contractor Iraq Amendment ACEC is leading an effort to defeat a recently adopted Senate amendment that would prevent engineering firms from carrying out crucial tasks as part of management contracts to support the Iraq reconstruction effort. The amendment (SA 3305) sponsored by Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore) and Byron Dorgan (D-ND), was adopted by the Senate June 23 as part of the F.Y. '05 National Defense Authorization Act. The provision targets specific program management contracts awarded by the Coalition Provisional Authority, claiming the services performed under the contracts are "inherently governmental" functions and not appropriate for private sector performance. Companies affected include two major joint ventures — Parsons Corp./CH2M-Hill and Louis Berger Group Inc./URS — which were awarded contracts in March. Under the awards, each team manages construction in a specific infrastructure sector. ACEC, along with the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) and other engineering and construction organizations have launched an aggressive campaign to have the measure removed from the final bill. ACEC believes that it would effectively deny the federal government the technical expertise and experience in complex construction projects that private firms bring, and threaten all program management contracts private firms have with Department of Defense agencies. If passed, this amendment would "cripple the massive effort to reconstruct Iraqi infrastructure…and jeopardize the efforts of American contractors working at personal risk to assist the U.S. in stabilizing the war-torn nation," said ACEC President Dave Raymond, and AGC CEO Stephen Sandherr, in a letter to the Senate.

The Littlest ACEC Member Proving you can never be too young to demonstrate your true allegiance, Mira Shind, the two-year-old daughter of ACEC/Massachusetts Executive Director Abbie Goodman, proudly displays her loyalty to ACEC and the Business Insurance Trust. For more information on the Trust and its programs click here.

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