Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has indicated that he may attempt to amend the House-passed bill with language limiting the application of 3 percent withholding. This proposal would continue to burden state and local governments as well as tax-compliant firms.

Members are encouraged to contact their Senators and urge full repeal of the 3 percent mandate immediately. Click here for a sample letter to send to your Senators today.

Highlights of the bi-partisan bill include consolidating several existing programs, implementing a new freight mobility initiative, and expanding TIFIA credit assistance to $1 billion per year to leverage state, local and private financing.

The Senate Finance Committee is seeking an additional $12 billion in order to sustain the funding levels in the bill. Additional Senate committees are expected to act soon on separate bills to fund transit and safety programs, which would be combined with the highway portion.

"The gate is finally opening on moving the highway bill," said ACEC President Dave Raymond. "We're focused on securing strong support in the committee and clearing the way for floor passage."

ACEC/PAC Champion Michael Myers of Rummel, Klepper, & Kahl in Baltimore said, "Our members understand that we are all in this together and our economic futures are tied directly to the success of ACEC’s advocacy efforts."

For more information or to check on status of your state’s ACEC/PAC fundraising effort, click here.

The plan combines control and responsibility for funding employees’ healthcare benefits with protection against large claims and higher than expected use of health care services.

Other benefits include Experience Refunds, in which Member Firms can earn back a portion of their Stop Loss Premium; maximum rate increases that will not exceed an established threshold; and no "lasering" after the first year, so new individuals at the firm since the original underwriting will not be considered as potential large claimants in determining renewal rates.

For more information or to obtain a quote, click here or call 1-800-841-6130.

Engineering firms engaged in or looking to get into federal projects—especially federally funded transportation projects—face numerous changes in regulations and guidelines, including procurement integrity requirements, certification of overhead rates and environmental rules.

In Navigating Government Projects and FAR Requirements: A/E/C Insiders’ Guide to Government Procurement and Compliance, December 5-6, Alexandria, VA, Robert R. Boyer, vice president, government facilities & infrastructure, CH2M HILL, and Wayne Owens, CPA, T. Wayne Owens & Associates, PC, will provide latest updates on federal A/E/C procurement and contracting and outline how key changes will affect engineering and construction businesses.

Click here to view course brochure and to register at early-bird best price before November 7.

Do your chart of accounts, balance sheet, income statement and project ledger summary incorporate the FAR 31 cost principles and elements of a compliant accounting system? Scott Butler, CPA, Beason & Nalley, conducts FAR-Compliant Accounting System: An Overview to discuss the challenges and structures necessary to produce compliant overhead rates and allowable costs as described in the AASHTO Audit Guide.

Butler will include an overview of policies and procedures necessary to produce adequate segregation of direct/indirect costs, timekeeping, billing, unallowable cost and consistency in accumulating indirect allowable costs in a compliant manner. Attendees will also hear examples of how to calculate compliant overhead rates.

Click here to register.

Cloud services have become the talk of the industry—changing IT and the way A/E firms do business. Engineering in the Cloud—Integrating Cloud Services Into Your IT Strategy is a definitive interactive webinar by Chris Pinckney, chief information officer, PSOMAS, that focuses on bringing IT and firm management participants up-to-speed on this emerging issue.

Participants will learn about the dangers and successes of cloud services from a presenter who is constantly pushing the limits of the possible and continually updating his expertise through information-sharing with numerous industry experts.

Click here to register.