Engineering Inc. - May/June 2016 - (Page 6)

Legislative Action Senate Passes Comprehensive Energy Bill JIM PARKIN / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO W Senate bill through statements of Department of Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz. The Senate-passed bill will help the United States become a "global energy superpower," Senator Lisa Murkowski (Energy Committee Chairwoman) said during the Convention following the floor vote. "Our bill will help America produce more energy and it will help America save more energy." Senate Approves ACEC-Backed FAA Reauthorization Bill T he Senate passed legislation to reauthorize Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) programs and airport funding, one of the advocacy objectives for ACEC "citizen lobbyists" during the Annual Convention and Legislative Summit. The final vote on the bill was an overwhelming 95-3. The Senate bill features an ACEC-backed $400-million boost in Airport Improvement Program funding for F.Y. 2017, a 12 percent increase. It also streamlines the Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) application process for all airports, but does not raise the existing cap on PFCs to help airports finance additional capital improvements. The Council supported beneficial provisions in the bill to broaden the commercial utilization of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). Many engineering and design firms are using or would like to use UAS for a wide array of services, including surveying, mapping, site monitoring, and facility inspections. Action now turns to the House, where a six-year FAA reauthorization bill has been approved by the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee. The House bill has stalled over a provision to remove air traffic control functions out of the FAA and create an independent, non-profit corporation to operate and modernize the air traffic system. It is not clear whether the House will proceed with the controversial proposal or recede to the Senate on a smaller scale bill. The current extension of FAA funding and programs expires on July 15, 2016. 6 ENGINEERING INC. MAY / JUNE 2016 Council Weighs in Against New Regulatory Proposals A CEC and coalition allies continue to push back against problematic new regulatory initiatives, including proposals that would impose new requirements on sick time for firms working for federal agencies, as well as payroll data affecting all firms. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has proposed that federal contractors provide their employees with 56 hours of annual sick leave, and mandates that firms report sick time accrued on a weekly basis. ACEC raised concerns that the proposal would increase overhead costs and decrease their flexibility to design benefits packages that meet the employee needs. The Council also submitted comments to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in opposition to a proposed requirement that all firms with 100 or more employees submit pay data from W-2 forms, along with the already mandated EEO-1 diversity reports. ACEC asserted the requirement would create substantial administrative burdens and would be duplicative for federal contractors that already submit compensation analysis as part of their Affirmative Action Plans. MARK WILSON/GETTY IMAGES ith the backing of hundreds of ACEC's "citizen lobbyists" during the Annual Convention, the U.S. Senate approved the Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2016 (S. 2012) on a bipartisan vote of 85 to 12. Similar legislation cleared the House of Representatives last December, with leaders in both houses now focused on developing a final compromise bill. Not since 2007 has the Congress successfully passed, and the president signed, comprehensive energy legislation. The Senate bill includes provisions to improve energy efficiency, as well as the federal permitting process for energy infrastructure, including transmission lines, natural gas pipelines, LNG facilities, and hydropower projects. The measure includes bipartisan language to develop model energy efficiency building codes for public and private buildings, and creates a multi-agency working group to examine the "energywater nexus". The Administration has signaled support for the

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Engineering Inc. - May/June 2016

Engineering Inc. - May/June 2016
Contents
From ACEC to You
Market Watch
Legislative Action
2016 Convention Wrap-Up
ACEC 2016 Engineering Excellence Awards
The Winner’s Circle
Setting the Standard
Mergers and Acquisitions
Members in the News
Business Insights

Engineering Inc. - May/June 2016

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