Help chart the course for ASCE's federal and state government relations programs by participating in the 2007 Priority Issues Survey.
Responses to the survey will help the Society's Committee on Government Affairs and the Board of Direction determine State and Federal Priority Issues for 2007.
Complete the 2007 Issues Survey
2006 Federal Priority Issues Agenda
2006 State Priority Issues Agenda
What is ASCE doing for you in Government Relations...
2005 Report Card for America's Infrastructure
Continuing the message of the Report Card released in March 2005, ASCE is working with Senators George Voinovich (R-OH) and Tom Carper (D-DE) to enact the National Infrastructure Improvement Act (S. 2388) which would establish a commission to study the nation's infrastructure needs and make legislative recommendations to improve conditions. In addition, ASCE Sections continue to release their own Report Cards, most recently New Hampshire, California and Pennsylvania.
Federal Legislation
Transportation
President Bush signed SAFETEA-LU into law August 10, 2005, reauthorizing the nation's surface transportation systems through FY 2009. The administration's FY 2007 budget request contained $47.9 billion for highways and transit, approximately $842 million more than the minimum amount guaranteed in SAFETEA-LU. ASCE is pressing congress to maintain this level through the FY 2007 appropriations process.
Environment & Water Resources
ASCE has played a leadership role in the investigations of levees and storm protection in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast following Hurricane Katrina. ASCE is working closely with House Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittee on Water Resources & the Environment Chairman John Duncan (R-TN) to enact the National Levee Safety Program Act (H.R. 4650) which would document the location and condition of the nation's levees. In addition, ASCE continues to work closely with coalition partners and congressional staff to support a pair of bills related to dams: the Dam Rehabilitation and Repair Act of 2005 (H.R. 1105/S. 2388), legislation that would provide federal funds to repair the nation's most critical dams, and the Dam Safety Act (H.R. 4981) reauthorizing the National Dam Safety Program. Work continues on the long-stalled Water Resources Development Act, legislation to authorize water and flood control projects.
Natural Hazard Impact Reduction
We continue to fight for funding for the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP), reauthorized in October 2004, and the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program (NWIRP), authorized for the first time in 2004. These programs coordinate federal research efforts to mitigate hazards from earthquakes and windstorms.
K-12 Math & Science Education
ASCE, along with the engineering and science community, continues to push for full funding for the Math and Science Partnership program in the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. The program, which pairs colleges and universities with local school districts to enhance K-12 math and science programs, was authorized at $450 million a year. However, for FY 2003, Congress appropriated just $100.3 million. For FY 2006, the Bush Administration proposed funding the program at $60 million. Along with its coalition partners, ASCE continues to push for full funding of $450 million.
State Legislation/Regulation
Attempts by the landscape architects to expand their practice act have been the main issue this legislative session. ASCE successfully fought against the expansion of the practice acts for landscape architects in New Hampshire, Illinois, Wisconsin and West Virginia. All of the Sections have worked towards compromise language on this issue. In Connecticut, CSCE President Thomas Roy testified before the Joint Committee on Transportation in support of an increase in transportation funding. Kentucky members were alerted to pending legislation in the Kentucky Legislature which would make continuing education a prerequisite for licensure. An alert was also emailed to members of the Alabama section urging them to contact their legislators in support of Good Samaritan legislation in their state. In Virginia, members were encouraged to contact Governor Kaine and urge him to extend the legislative session until the legislature resolved the transportation issue.
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Features : :
ASCE Official Register Available Online Download EJCDC Contract Documents Earn PDHs/CEUs without leaving the office with ASCE Distance Learning Hurricane Katrina External Review Panel
National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program Coalition (NEHRP) The Infrastructure Security Partnership
Water Infrastructure Security Enhancements Wind Hazard Reduction CoalitionEvents : :
October
15 - 18
2008 T&DI Pavement Conference
23 - 25
International Workshop on Frontier Technologies for Infrastructures Engineering— IWFTIE 2008November
06 - 08
ASCE's 138th Annual Civil Engineering Conference
16 - 19
2008 International Low Impact Development Conference
16 - 19
2008 International Low Impact Development Conference Conference 
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