Engineering Inc. - November/December 2007 - (Page 12) LEGISLATIvE ACTIoN FRom ACEC’S GovERNmENT AFFAIRS DEPARTmENT EducAtion Bill to AddrESS EnginEEr SHortAgE; PrESErving tHE cASH Accounting oPtion Education Bill Addresses Engineer Shortage Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.) has introduced legislation to create federal education incentives to encourage more young people to enter the engineering profession. The Strategic Technology/Engineering Program (STEP) Act of 2007 Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.) (H.R. 3634) would create a scholarship program for students pursuing an engineering degree. In addition, Cleaver’s legislation would offer loan forgiveness to graduates who are employed as engineers and working toward their P.E. license. Cleaver developed this legislation in consultation with ACEC and in response to the growing shortage of engineers. The industry must contend with the combination of fewer college graduates earning degrees in engineering and the expected loss of more than one-quarter of the science and engineering workforce to retirement in the next 15 years. Former ACEC Chairman Ed Mulcahy, who worked closely with the congressman’s staff in developing the legislation, said, “Congressman Cleaver is taking a critical leadership role in addressing a serious problem that hurts both the industry and the nation’s economy. The entire industry needs to rally behind him to support this important legislation.” Current law requires the use of QBS for projects funded by the Airport and Airways Trust Fund, which is supported by aviation fuel tax revenue. However, there is no federal guidance on the use of QBS for projects funded by PFC revenue. The report that accompanies H.R. 2881 notes that QBS “fosters creative, cost-saving, and time-saving approaches” for airport projects. The report further states that the House committee “encourages the use of the QBS process for PFC-funded projects with the goal of serving the needs of all affected stakeholders.” “This is a big step forward,” said ACEC Transportation Committee Chairman Charlie Geer of Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. “Regardless of which federal program funds the project, we want airports to use QBS when procuring engineering, and this language will help to achieve this goal.” Overall, the measure provides $37.2 billion to support FAA operations, $15.8 billion for airport construction projects and $13 billion for facilities and equipment. The bill also lifts the cap on PFCs from $4.50 per ticket to $7, further expanding the pool of funding for needed airport projects. The Senate is still in the process of considering companion legislation to H.R. 2881. The current funding program expired at the end of September, and both houses passed extensions to keep projects funded until a final reauthorization bill is signed into law. Scott J. Ferrell/Getty ImaGeS House Endorses QBS in FAA Funding Bill The U.S. House of Representatives cleared a four-year, $67.8 billion Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill that includes ACEC-supported language encouraging greater use of Qualifications-Based Selection (QBS) for airport construction projects. The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2007 (H.R. 2881) increases aviation fuel taxes to support additional airport projects nationwide and endorses the use of QBS for projects funded through Passenger Facility Charges (PFCs). 12 ENGINEERING INC. NovEmbER / DECEmbER 2007 new technologies Will Enhance Bridge Safety, Says AcEc Witness at House Hearing ACEC testified at a House hearing on the safety of critical infrastructure, emphasizing the role of emerging technologies to enhance bridge safety nationwide. Chaired by Rep. Bart Gordon (D-Tenn.), the Committee on Science and Technology examined current research and new technologies to improve the safety of the nation’s bridges following the recent collapse of the I-35 bridge in Minnesota. Mark Bernhardt, director of facility inspection with ACEC member firm Burgess & Niple in Ohio, delivered testimony on behalf of ACEC. He was joined by witnesses from the Federal ISSuES oN ThE movE Airports funding bill clears house WRDA vetoed WhAT’S NExT Senate action in the fall override vote in November 3 percent withholding delayed Companion legislation to be introduced in Senate
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