Engineering Inc. - May/June 2019 - 8

LEGISLATIVEACTION

New Proposed
Overtime Pay
Rule Released

JIM WATSON / CONTRIBUTOR / GETTY IMAGES

he Department of
Labor (DOL) released
a new proposed rule
on overtime pay
under the Fair Labor Standards
Act. The law gives DOL the
authority to periodically update
the salary threshold below
which employees who work
more than 40 hours in a week
must be paid time and a half
overtime.
In 2016, DOL approved
increasing the threshold from
$455 weekly/$23,660 annually
to $913 weekly/$47,476
annually, which represented a
100 percent increase during a
time period when cumulative
inflation was 26 percent. That
rule was scheduled to take effect
on Dec. 1, 2016, but was overturned by a federal judge.
The new proposed rule
would raise the overtime
pay salary threshold to $679
weekly/$35,308 annually. DOL
retained the current duties test
for determining whether an
employee who earns more than
the salary threshold is exempt
from overtime pay. These
changes reflect recommendations
ACEC made in response to a
2017 request for information
from DOL.
ACEC submitted comments
in support of the proposed rule.
DOL will publish a final rule
after it has reviewed all feedback.

ACEC Calls on Lawmakers to Continue
Forward with Infrastructure Agenda

espite a setback in
negotiations between
President Trump and
congressional Democratic
leaders, ACEC continues to
make the case for a broad
infrastructure investment initiative this year.
In a letter joined by multiple stakeholder
groups, business and labor organizations,
the Council called on lawmakers to come
back to the table and identify revenue
options for funding the bill.
"Every day, the cost of federal
inaction grows. As representatives for
millions of American businesses and
workers who are counting on you to
rebuild our infrastructure and grow our
economy, we urge you to immediately
resume discussions on America's failing
infrastructure and take legislative action
this year," the groups wrote. "The time to
act is now."

The letter specifically highlighted the gas
tax as the simplest and most effective means
for funding federal transportation programs,
noting that Democrat and Republican
legislators in conservative, liberal and swing
states have already increased their state gas
tax to finance their share of infrastructure
improvements.
Funding and financing a 21st century
infrastructure agenda-including surface
transportation, airports, water and wastewater
and public buildings-was a key component
of the lobbying visits with members of
Congress during the ACEC Convention and
Legislative Summit. The House and Senate
infrastructure committees are currently
developing proposals for the reauthorization
of surface transportation programs under
the FAST Act, a substantial increase in Clean
Water and Drinking Water State Revolving
Fund programs, funding for ports and
waterways and other legislative initiatives.

ouse Transportation and Infrastructure
Committee Chairman Peter DeFazio,
D-Ore., introduced the Water Quality and
Jobs Creation Act (H.R.1497), which would
reauthorize and expand federal funding for wastewater
projects around the country.
H.R. 1497 authorizes $20 billion over five years for
the Clean Water State Revolving Fund program. The
8

ENGINEERING INC.

MAY / JUNE 2019

program has played an important role in helping communities pay for necessary infrastructure improvements
and has provided over $126 billion in assistance since its
inception in 1987.
With the focus on infrastructure this year, the bill
could be included in a larger infrastructure package or
be included in the next round of the Water Resources
Development Act.

GARY LANDSMAN

ACEC-Backed Water Bill Introduced

Rep. Peter DeFazio,
D-Ore.

Engineering Inc. - May/June 2019

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