A Critical R&D Win; Meet ACEC’s Incoming Executive Committee

Late Wednesday evening, the House passed H.R. 7024, the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024, which includes language that will provide our member firms relief from an onerous R&D tax policy that punishes innovation. We know how important R&D is to the future of our industry and, in turn, to the future of our country. ACEC National and ACEC MO advocates are in the trenches on this one, and Wednesday’s vote is a major step towards correcting this bad policy.  

The fight isn’t over yet. The next hurdle is the Senate. That said, this bill passed the House by an overwhelming 357-70 vote.

That is a level of bipartisan agreement almost unheard of in this political climate.  It’s a testament to the effective engagement from all of you, ACEC’s “citizen lobbyists” in building the case for action, and it bodes well for our chances in the upper chamber. With the White House reportedly indicating support for the bill, Senate action is key. On timing: Senate action is more likely at the end of February or early March. We’re not letting up until this is a done and signed deal – and you shouldn’t either. If you haven’t already done so, please contact your Senators and urge them to please move swiftly to gain consensus and to vote YES on their version of the bill. Let’s bring this home. 

The R&D win in the House was a hot topic of conversation when our incoming Executive Committee gathered in our D.C. offices for orientation recently. This is a stellar group of leaders and innovators, varied in their backgrounds and expertise but united in their commitment to our members and to our industry. From procurement to risk management, land surveying to fire protection, this class covers the waterfront of disciplines represented within our Council. And that is as it should be. We are the leading advocate in Washington for the business of engineering, uniquely positioned to shape policies that impact our industry. The more voices we can bring to those efforts, the better we all will be.  

Our Senior VP of Communications and Marketing, Jeff Urbanchuk sat down with our incoming ExCom Class last week to get their perspectives on their new roles, and where they see opportunities to leverage their experience and expertise in service of the Council. You can watch their interviews here, and I encourage you to do so.

These brief exchanges are an opportunity to hear directly from these new leaders why they have chosen to serve – and why they would encourage you, our members, to get involved. I know perhaps better than anyone that there is a wealth of talent within our membership. Your voice matters, and your involvement can make a world of difference. Last week’s R&D victory is proof of that.