Engineering Inc. - November/December 2008 - (Page 11)

aCeC urges Congress to address infrastructure Crisis in Bailout Package Congress needs to tackle the crisis facing the nation’s infrastructure with the same urgency as the crisis facing the nation’s financial markets, ACEC President Dave Raymond told congressional leaders during consideration of the financial rescue package cleared by Congress. Prior to congressional approval of the financial rescue package, Raymond emphasized in a letter to House and Senate leaders the importance of including infrastructure investment in the financial bailout legislation under debate. The House and Senate reportedly might take up an economic stimulus bill that will include additional funds for transportation, environmental and other infrastructure projects during a “lame duck” session following Election Day. “Infrastructure is literally the foundation of the nation’s economy, and that foundation is falling apart,” said Raymond. “If Congress and the administration wish to commit hundreds of billions of dollars to remedy the nation’s financial markets, they should also look seriously at a positive investment in the nation’s infrastructure, which will improve our economy in both the near- and long-term.” Raymond added that “in the transportation area, the nation’s economy is suffering a $135 billion shortfall necessary to sustain economic growth. “America’s water infrastructure needs are equally severe,” said Raymond, “with a funding gap of $300 billion to $500 billion between current annual investments and what is needed to repair deteriorating drinking water and wastewater systems over the next 20 years. “We agree that Congress needs to act quickly to stabilize the U.S. economy, but if lawmakers want to take serious action to reverse the tide and spur economic growth, both near- as well as long-term, an infrastructure-based stimulus package offers a positive and safe investment of taxpayer dollars.” industry-Backed Business Tax Provisions included in Financial rescue Package The financial rescue bill approved by Congress included legislation to extend a large package of business and energy tax provisions that had expired at the end of 2007. Included was an extension of the R&D tax credit, which many engineering firms use to perform research, develop new designs, use new technologies in new applications and perform other types of qualifying activities. The package also contained numerous energy tax incentives, such as renewable energy tax credits, new tax credits for clean coal projects and an extension of the energy-efficient building credit. aCeC-supported Bridge legislation receives senate Committee approval The U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works approved ACEC-backed legislation to improve the nation’s bridge inspection, rehabilitation and repair programs. The National Highway Bridge Reconstruction and Inspection Act (H.R. 3999) authorizes an additional $1 billion for F.Y. 2009 for the Federal Highway Administration’s Highway Bridge Program. The U.S. House of Representatives passed the bill in July. The legislation includes a key Council recommendation that requires the U.S. Department of Transportation to develop a new risk-based process for bridge inspections and repairs. The bill also includes an ACEC-backed provision requiring bridge program managers and team leaders to be state-licensed engineers. It is uncertain whether the full Senate will take up the bill prior to adjournment. If not, it is expected that this legislation will be included in the broader SAFETEA-LU reauthorization bill due for consideration next year. aCeC nominees selected for national Committee on levee safety Two ACEC nominees—Don Basham of Stantec, Inc., and Les Harder of HDR, Inc.—were selected recently to serve as private-sector members of a national panel charged with developing safety policies for the nation’s levees. Basham is Stantec’s senior consultant and adviser on water resources specializing in levees and dams. He previously served as chief of engineering and conDon Basham struction with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Harder is HDR’s senior water policy technical adviser. He previously held leadership positions with the California Department of Water Resources. A provision in the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 required the Corps to develop a national levee safety and inspection program and create the National Committee on Levee Safety. A key ACEC objective is to prevent unreasonable liability for those performing levee safety assessments. “We were very pleased to have the opportunity to Les Harder select two such highly qualified and well-respected professionals from the private sector as Don Basham and Les Harder for the National Committee on Levee Safety,” said Eric Halpin, committee vice chairman and special assistant for dam and levee safety at the Corps. For More news For weekly legislative news, visit Acec’s Last Word online at www.acec.org. NovEmbER / dECEmbER 2008 ENGINEERING INC. 11 http://www.acec.org

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Engineering Inc. - September/October 2008 Contents From ACEC to You News & Notes Market Watch Legislative Action Engineering Goes Back to School Winning the Talent War Mastering A Hard-Luck Economy Education Makes the Grade in Green Construction 2008 Young Professionals of the Year 2008 Fall Conference Highlights Technology Members in the News One On One

Engineering Inc. - November/December 2008

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