American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC): Latest News - Federal Surface Transportation Reauthorization

Federal Surface Transportation Reauthorization

Latest News

ACEC ACTION ALERT

Support House Passage of H.R. 7, Five-Year $263 Billion Transportation Bill and Protect Provision on Contracting Out

This week the U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to consider H.R. 7, the American Energy & Infrastructure Jobs Act, the House version of a multi-year surface transportation authorization bill. ACEC needs your help to promote passage of this critical bill for our industry, and to protect language in the bill intended to encourage more contracting out by state DOTs.

The House bill maintains current levels of investment. H.R. 7 provides $263 billion for highways, transit and highway safety programs over five years. While we have vigorously advocated for an increase in funding, this bill at least will give states the stability and predictability they need to implement long-range transportation improvement plans.

The House bill incorporates many ACEC policy recommendations. In particular, H.R. 7 includes numerous reforms that will facilitate more efficient project delivery by streamlining environmental and other regulatory reviews. It also consolidates many federal programs to eliminate funding silos and give states more flexibility to allocate limited resources while refocusing on core national needs.

The House bill promotes contracting out for engineering services. Section 1717A calls on states to contract out for engineering services "to the maximum extent practicable." Amendments to strike or weaken the contracting out provision were offered during committee consideration of the bill last week, and we anticipate that they could be offered again in the full House next week.

Every Member of Congress needs to hear about the value and benefits of contracting out. We need to resoundingly defeat any effort to strip out or weaken this important provision.

ACEC Members are strongly encouraged to write their Representative in support of H.R. 7 and in particular Section 1717A. Click here to access a sample letter. You are encouraged to personalize the letter with firm-specific information and email or fax it to your Member of Congress.