Eric L. Flicker, ACEC Chairman

The House Water Resources and the Environment Subcommittee recently approved a $20-billion bill backed by ACEC for wastewater treatment projects throughout the nation.

Titled the "Water Quality Financing Act of 2003," HR 1560 is aimed at reducing a major backlog in wastewater infrastructure needs, a funding gap estimated by the Water Infrastructure Network (WIN) at over $12 billion a year.

HR 1560 now goes to the full House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for consideration, which is expected after Congress reconvenes in September.

"This important water bill has moved much faster than expected," said ACEC Chairman Eric Flicker who is CFO of Pennoni Associates, a major environmental engineering firm headquartered in Philadelphia. "The ACEC staff is to be commended for its relentless pursuit of this very positive action."

Historic QBS Provision In Water Bill

"QBS continues to represent the highest priority for our industry," said David Greenwood, the chairman of ACEC's Federal Agencies Committee. "This latest win is another step in ACEC's ongoing effort to ensure that all levels of government base their engineering procurement decisions on qualifications as opposed to the cheapest bid."

Key Legislators Praise Engineering Inc. As Effective Advocacy Weapon

Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio) reading Engineering Inc.

"A very impressive publication representing a very important industry," says Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio), chairman of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, which is acting on ACEC's FLSA and AHP reforms.

Senator James Inhofe (R-Okla), who chairs the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee said, "Engineering Inc. is a great publication, providing me with straightforward information on the key issues affecting engineering firms in Oklahoma, and throughout the country."

"Congratulations to ACEC on a very fine magazine," said Rep. Don Young (R-AK), House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee chairman. "Engineering Inc. provides essential insights into the views and concerns of the engineering industry."

Each issue has featured in-depth cover stories with key policy makers, beginning with President Bush in the inaugural issue. Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert, Transportation Secretary Norm Mineta, EPA Administrator Christine Todd Whitman, and House Transportation Committee Chairman Don Young (R-AK) have also been featured.

Outsourcing Foes Back Down In Face Of Pressure From ACEC, White House

Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Texas)

The provision was originally inserted by Rep. Charles Taylor (R-NC), chairman of the Subcommittee on Interior Appropriations. Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Texas) filed an amendment to strike the language on the House floor. In the face of intense lobbying from ACEC and industry allies, as well as a White House veto threat, Rep. Taylor agreed to drop the provision.

Frank Rudd, executive of ACEC's Florida MO

ACEC has learned that an amendment may be offered to the Senate version of the Interior Appropriations bill that would also prevent Interior Agencies from moving forward with their efforts to open commercial services to competition from the private sector. The bill is expected to come before the Senate in September.

"Giving the private sector more opportunities to do this work opens market opportunities for our members. But, more importantly, it ensures that taxpayers benefit from the best engineering services available," said Frank Rudd, executive vice president of ACEC's Florida member organization.

After House Victory, FLSA Reform Faces New Threat In Senate; ACEC Issues Call To Arms

The ACEC-led grassroots campaign prompted the House to reject an amendment offered by Representative George Miller (D-Calif) that sought to prevent the Department of Labor from moving forward on needed ACEC-supported reforms to the FLSA. The House rejected the Miller Amendment 213-210.

ACEC has long advocated changes to the FLSA that would allow member firms to more easily identify exempt and non-exempt employees and in other ways to simplify compliance with the statute.

Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) is planning to offer a similar version of the rejected amendment to the Senate's F.Y. '04 Labor, HHS, Education appropriations bill. ACEC, together with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Federation of Independent Businesses, and other coalition allies are once again engaged in an intense lobbying effort to oppose the Harkin Amendment and protect the FLSA reform effort.

In a letter to Senate members, ACEC President Dave Raymond noted, "regulations governing overtime and minimum wage eligibility under the FLSA have not been significantly revised in over 50 years. The engineering workplace has changed considerably during that time period, and the proposed regulations will remedy many of the problems engineering firms face with regard to FLSA compliance."

Just as grassroots involvement was a key ingredient in the House victory, ACEC members are now encouraged to send letters to their Senators in opposition to this latest attack against FLSA reform. Go to www.acec.org/publications/lastword/flsa_senateltr.html for a sample letter, and www.acec.org/publications/lastword/senatefaxnumbers2003.pdf for contact information for your Senator.

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