Engineering Inc. - May/June 2008 - 8

LEGIsLAtIvE ACtIoN FRoM ACEC’s GovERNMENt AFFAIRs DEPARtMENt Budget Resolution to RestoRe HigHway Funds; H-1B Visa legislation intRoduced; acec adVocates FoR incReased wateR Funding Budget Resolutions would Restore Highway Funds A budget shortfall in the Highway Trust Fund that threatens funding for 2009 highway projects would be remedied under provisions in U.S. House- and Senate-passed budget plans. Though both resolutions passed by narrow margins, the votes handed ACEC and its coalition allies an early win in what will be a yearlong fight to ensure that federal surface transportation programs are fully funded in 2009. ACEC members converged on Capitol Hill during the Annual Convention in late April to lobby House and Senate offices in support of the trust-fund fix and other industry issues. acec-Backed H-1B Visa legislation introduced ACEC supports two legislative measures that would increase the availability of H-1B visas used by U.S. companies to retain and recruit highly skilled talent. H.R. 5630 and H.R. 5642, introduced by Reps. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) and Lamar Smith (R-Texas), respectively, seek to significantly increase the current Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) yearly cap of 65,000 H-1B visas. The Giffords bill (H.R. 5630) would raise the visa cap to 130,000 in 2009 and 180,000 in subsequent years based on demand. Smith, the senior Republican on the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, wants to create short-term relief for H-1B visa applicants by increasing the cap to 195,000 for fiscal years 2008 and 2009. The need for legislative relief was underscored in April when the U.S. Bureau of Citizenship and Immigra- Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas) tion Services received approximately 200,000 applications for the 65,000 available H-1B visas for 2009. As it did last year, the agency will use a lottery system to choose H-1B recipients. ACEC continues to advocate for more H-1B visas to address the persistent shortage of engineers in the United States. The Council also is helping guide legislation through Congress that would provide financial aid incentives to encourage more young people to pursue engineering degrees. IssUEs oN thE MovE Budget plans to restore highway funds Contractor tax enforcement legislation A/E retainage issue “Congress needs to act this year if we’re to head off a serious shortfall in the Highway Trust Fund that could reduce funding to the states by 32 percent,” said ACEC President Dave Raymond. “The votes in March are only the first steps in the process—the tough part remains ahead of us as we attempt to secure these budget recommendations into law.” Both resolutions provide additional funding to restore the F.Y. 2009 shortfall, ensuring that highway and transit projects are funded at the SAFETEA-LU-authorized levels of $43.2 billion and $10.3 billion, respectively. The Senate resolution goes a step further, adding an extra $4 billion for new transportation spending as part of a future economic stimulus package. House and Senate negotiators are working to hammer out a compromise budget resolution. Though not binding, the budget resolution provides House and Senate appropriators with a blueprint for spending priorities in 2009. 8 ENGINEERING INC. MAY / JUNE 2008 WhAt’s NExt house, senate appropriators to act in spring Possible floor action before summer FAR Council to respond before summer AP Photo/J. Scott APPlewhite

Engineering Inc. - May/June 2008

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