ACEC Introduces Freshman Congressman To Infrastructure Community ACEC Government Affairs VP Steve Hall (left) and Rep. Randy Kuhl (R-NY) at the ACEC reception in Washington ACEC hosted a reception for freshman Congressman Randy Kuhl (R-NY) to introduce him to several national infrastructure organizations. The reception afforded the Council and other industry organizations the opportunity to brief the New York lawmaker on key priorities, including the reauthorization of TEA-21. Kuhl represents the 29th District of New York. Prior to his election to the U.S. House of Representatives last year, he served for many years in the New York State Assembly and Senate, rising to Assistant Majority Leader in the Senate in 1995. He also served as Chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Transportation, and worked with ACEC members in the state on a number of key infrastructure issues. "Randy is someone who understands our industry, and someone who understands the infrastructure needs of the country," said ACEC/New York President-Elect Charles Franzese of Hunt Engineers, Architects & Land Surveyors. As a new member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, he will play a key role in passing the next six-year surface transportation bill.

"Capitol Steps" Comedy Troupe Highlights Convention Entertainment The Capitol Steps, the world-renowned musical comedy troupe, which can make even the most serious issue hilarious, will perform at the upcoming 2005 Annual Convention, April 10-13, at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Washington, D.C. Made up of former Congressional staffers, the Capitol Steps will use comedy material from their 24 popular albums dating back to 1984, including their latest: Papa's Got a Brand New Baghdad. Their performance begins immediately following the Chairman's Banquet and Award of Merit Dinner, which begins at 7:30pm on Tuesday, April 12. Other Convention activities include a D.C. Ducks tour of Washington, guaranteed to be the most unique and exciting way to tour the nation's capital. Win A Car At The Annual Convention ACEC/PAC will offer a sweepstakes drawing for a new 2005 Ford Mustang. Tickets are only $200 each, and only 300 tickets will be sold! Members may purchase up to five tickets. Click here for further information about these activities or the upcoming 2005 Annual Convention, or call 202-347-7474.

House Committee Marks Up TEA-21 Bill; Floor Action Expected Next Week The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee marked up and reported an amended version of H.R. 3—Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy For Users (TEA LU)—on Wednesday, clearing the measure for floor consideration on Wednesday or Thursday of next week. The bill contains $283.9 billion in guaranteed funding, with highway funding growing from $34.7 billion in F.Y. 2005 to $41 billion in F.Y. 2009 and transit spending increasing from $7.6 billion in F.Y. 2005 to $10.3 billion in F.Y. 2009. Most of the policy provisions that were contained in last year's House reauthorization bill are carried over into H.R. 3, including environmental streamlining provisions that have been advocated by ACEC and the creation of a new congestion relief program and safety program. The new bill revises some of last year's language by expanding tolling flexibility. One critical element that is still pending is the "minimum guarantee" program, which is the mechanism that brings states a certain rate of return. This percentage will likely be inserted into the managers' amendment when the bill goes to the House floor. It is rumored that each state's minimum rate of return, which is currently 90.5 percent, will rise to 92 percent in the new bill. Click here for a link to the T&I Committee's website on TEA LU, which contains a summary of the changes that were made in the Committee markup.

Penn State Student Receives ACEC's 2005 "Scholar Of The Year" Award Phillip Mackey (left) and ACEC Fellow Charles Meyer at the Future City Competition luncheon. Phillip Mackey received ACEC's 2005 "Scholar of the Year" award during the Future City Competition luncheon in Washington, D.C. last week, as part of National Engineers Week activities. Mackey (left), an engineering major at Penn State University, was presented the $5,000 scholarship award from ACEC Fellow Charles Meyer.

"Hot Seller": ACEC's New Sustainable Development Guide ACEC's new guide to sustainable development—Becoming Part of the Solution: The Engineer's Guide to Sustainable Development—is now available in ACEC's bookstore. This ground-breaking book explores concepts and ideas central to "sustainability," a design approach that has been called a mega-trend. Author Bill Wallace, a former CH2M Hill executive who is now an independent consultant, looks at sustainable development from an engineering company perspective. Past ACEC Chairman Eric Flicker says, "the book is a 'how to' manual, focused on helping engineering company owners, managers and thought leaders evaluate what sustainable development means to their firms." Also included is a CD linking the reader to key documents, organizations and software, making the book a valuable tool kit, saving literally thousands of hours of research and analysis. To order or receive further information about Becoming Part of the Solution: The Engineer's Guide to Sustainable Development, click here or call 202-347-7474. Bill Wallace will conduct an ACEC online seminar: Sustainable Design for Engineers, March 23, 1:30 p.m. ET. Click here for more information or to register.

Copyright © 2004 by the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC). All rights reserved. No part of this newsletter may be reproduced, stored in any form of retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, photographic, or other means without the prior written permission of ACEC.

Click here to review past editions of the Last Word.

Click here to subscribe to the Last Word.