A dozen ACEC/Michigan representatives traveled to Washington D.C. this week to attend the ACEC National Annual Convention and make visits with Michigan members of Congress.

Engineering Excellence Awards

Congratulations to member firms Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr & Huber, Harley Ellis Devereaux, Orchard Hiltz & McCliment, and Parsons Corporation for becoming National Finalists in the Engineering Excellence competition. Special recognition goes to member firm Wade Trim who received 1 of only 8 Grand Awards given during the Awards Gala on Tuesday evening for the US-24 Bridge Rehabilitation project over the Rouge River in Dearborn.

ACEC PAC

ACEC/Michigan was honored during the Board of Directors luncheon for meeting it's ACEC PAC goal for the 4th consecutive year. Thank you to all ACEC/Michigan PAC contributors.

Legislative Summit 

ACEC visits with Congress took place on Tuesday and Wednesday. Discussion was limited to 3 key issues which included:

Overturn the 3% Withholding Mandate

Section 511 of the Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act of 2005 (P.L. 109-22) is a sweeping new requirement mandating that federal, state, and local governments withhold 3% from payment for goods and services. The law, which takes effect in 2011, will cover all such payments made by the federal government and state governments, as well as local governments that have annual expenditures that exceed $100 million. ACEC asked for support of bills H.R. 1023 and S. 777 which will repeal Section 511.

Addressing the Water Infrastructure Crisis

Legislation is now moving in Congress that takes an important step in addressing the looming water infrastrature crisis. The House of Representatives last year adopted H.R. 720, the Water Quality Financing Act, which reauthorizes and expands the Clean Water SRF program to $14 billion over four years. The current Clean Water SRF program has been reduced to $887 million in FY 2006, $1 billion in FY 2007, and $689 million in 2008 after being funded at $1.35 billion annually for several years. ACEC asked the members of the Senate to seek passage of companion legislation to H.R. 720 this year.

Averting the Transportation Funding Shortfall

Highway Trust Fund revenues will not meet the spending levels specified in SAFETEA LU and the Trust Fund could have a negative balance of $3.7 billion by FY 2009. The situation grows worse in 2010, as funding to states for highway projects would be cut by 50% under current budget forecasts. ACEC requested that Congress act now to address the 2009 deficit in the Highway Trust Fund and to begin developing long-term solutions for future Federal transportation funding legislation.

ACEC/Michigan members spent two days visiting with 12 of our 17 Michigan members of Congress on Tuesday and Wednesday, April 29 and 30. A special thanks to Wally Alix (HRC), Tom Dohr (Spalding DeDecker Associates), Jim Escamilla (Byce & Associates), Dan Fredendall (OHM), Steve Gravlin (Wade Trim), Roger Johr (Williams & Works), Tom Long (Rowe Incorporated), Andy McCune (Wade Trim), Jay Shah (Somat Engineering), Jim Susan (FTCH) and Doug Watson (Wade Trim) for attending the meetings.

For more information Contact: Cindy Schmitz