Engineering Inc. - May/June 2009 - (Page 8)

LEGIsLAtIvE ACtIoN FRoM ACEC’s GovERNMENt AFFAIRs DEPARtMENt Major Water LegisLation on the Move in senate; Citizen Lobbyists add Co-sponsors to 3% repeaL LegisLation senate Committee Clears aCeC-backed $38.5 billion Water bill, expands Qbs The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works approved major water infrastructure legislation in May that significantly boosts investment in drinking water and wastewater projects. The package also includes a new mandate to require municipalities to use QBS on federally funded water projects. The Water Infrastructure Financing Act of 2009 (S. 1005) authorizes $38.5 billion over five years for projects funded through Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) the Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act State Revolving Fund (SRF) programs. Introduced jointly by the committee chair, Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), and the senior committee Republican, Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), the measure extends SRF loans to 30 years; broadens the list of eligible projects; and gives greater weight to applications from communities developing asset management and long-term financial plans. It also adds grant programs for watershed restoration projects, combined sewer overflows and “critical drinking water Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) infrastructure projects;” and revises the allocation formula to state water agencies. The Senate bill requires communities with populations over 10,000 to use QBS on SRF-funded projects. The House-passed bill includes a QBS mandate that would cover all federally funded projects. The Council will advocate for the broadest possible application of QBS when the Senate considers this legislation on the floor, possibly this summer, or in conference with the House bill. Federal budget Makes room for additional infrastructure Funding Congress has approved the federal budget for the coming fiscal year, opening the door to significant funding increases for transportation programs under the next highway bill. The final budget provides a baseline of $324 billion for highway and transit programs for the next six years, the anticipated length of the SAFETEA-LU reauthorization bill. During final negotiations, ACEC responded to a “call to arms” from House Transportation Committee Chairman James Oberstar (D-Minn.) and successfully advocated for the restoration of $82 billion that had been cut in the Congressional Budget Office and earlier Senate baselines. Importantly, the budget also includes a reserve account for increased funding as long as new spending is supported with additional revenues into the Highway Trust Fund. ACEC won another crucial victory when Congress rejected an administration proposal that would have threatened the budgetary “firewalls” that protect Highway Trust Fund revenues. ACEC and other industry groups strongly opposed the administration proposal because it would have weakened the funding guarantees that allow states to execute multiyear highway, transit and aviation programs. “This is an important win, and a critical first step, to increase federal investment in transportation infrastructure,” said ACEC President Dave Raymond. “This budget gives us the ability to fight for a robust reauthorization bill with adequate and stable funding sources for meeting our transportation improvement needs.” On the environmental side, the resolution provides $3.9 billion for the Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act State Revolving Fund (SRF) programs, allocating $2.4 billion for wastewater projects and $1.5 billion for drinking water projects, more than double the current funding level. The budget also includes language that could potentially make it easier for Congress to pass health care reform legislation later this year. IssUEs oN thE MovE 2010 budget 3% withholding repeal senate water infrastructure bill WhAt’s NExt Individual spending bills to move June, July Implementing regulations to be developed by IRs Floor consideration this summer 8 ENGINEERING INC. MAY / JUNE 2009

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Engineering Inc. - May/June 2009

Engineering Inc. - May/June 2009
Table of Contents
From ACEC to You
News and Notes
Market Watch
Legislative Action
Celebrating 100 Years of Industry Influence
2009 Engineering Excellence Awards
Taking the Pain Out of Permits
Members in the News

Engineering Inc. - May/June 2009

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