This Week in Washington
For the Week Ending February 23, 2001
This weekly report is written by the American Society of Civil Engineers' Government Relations staff. If you have questions or comments about any items in this report, please contact Brian Pallasch, Michael Charles, Martin Hight, Austin Fulk, or Liz Hermsen by e-mail or at 202/789-2200.
Inside This Week:
- Senator to Introduce Comprehensive Energy Bill
- State Government Update
- ASCE Congressional Fellow's Report, January 2001
1. SENATOR TO INTRODUCE COMPREHENSIVE ENERGY BILL
Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Frank Murkowski (R-AK) will introduce the Senate GOP's energy production bill on February 25. The comprehensive bill seeks to reduce reliance on foreign energy sources by boosting domestic production, bolstering conservation programs and improving energy transmission. The centerpiece of the bill is a controversial section that would allow for oil drilling and exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). Democrats and several Republicans oppose opening up ANWR because they believe the drilling would damage the environment. ASCE believes that if ANWR is developed, it can and must be done in an environmentally responsible manner, according to ASCE policy number 342.
2. STATE GOVERNMENT UPDATE
ASCE provides updates on individual state government matters affecting civil engineers. For more information on the following items, or any other state government relations matters, please contact Austin Fulk, ASCE's Manager of State Government Relations, at (202) 789-2200 or via email at afulk@asce.org.
QBS Victory in Virginia
Thanks to the efforts of engineers across the state, Virginia's QBS procedures appear to be safe. The state budget bill, which contained a provision allowing the state Department of Transportation (VDOT) to bypass the state's procurement process, was amended in committee to change this requirement. In its place is a new provision allowing VDOT to move forward with an electronic web-based procurement system. Many thanks to all of the ASCE members who have written and called their Delegates and Senators, including the following ASCE members who contacted their elected officials in the past week and copied ASCE on their correspondence.
Kendall Ball
Richard Rothblum
State Legislative Update
The following bills were recently introduced in state legislatures across the country. If you have questions about particular legislation, please contact Austin Fulk, ASCE's Manager of State Government Relations.
Alabama:
H.B. 276 and S.B. 237 regulate the profession of interior design and establish the State Board of Registration for Interior Design.
Colorado:
H.B. 1153 allows certain interior designers to file documents to obtain building permits.
Connecticut:
H.B. 6675 grants tax credits for redevelopment of brownfields.
Florida:
S.B. 536 would regulate the discharge of demineralization concentrate.
Illinois:
H.B. 807 and 628 establish the Build Illinois Transit Program to funnel almost $4 billion to mass transit programs around the state.
H.B. 889 provides a statute of limitations of four years for most legal actions against land surveyors.
Kansas:
H.B. 2475 requires the state to assess life-cycle costs when procuring public buildings.
Minnesota:
H.F. 724 would require the use of qualifications based selection (QBS) procedures for awarding design contracts for state construction.
Mississippi:
H.B. 462 would regulate the practice of landscape architecture.
S.B. 3081 provides incentives for the redevelopment of brownfields in the state.
Missouri:
H.B. 714 would allow the state to use design-build for procuring design services for highways.
S.B. 253 would require a certificate of merit for a party to sue a design professional.
Nevada:
A.B. 72 would make all design work produced by a design professional the property of the state if the design professional is awarded the contract the plans are submitted for.
New York:
S.B. 2303 requires a party to obtain a certificate of merit in order to sue a design professional.
3. ASCE CONGRESSIONAL FELLOW'S REPORT, FEBRUARY 2001
The Bush administration has completed filling its Cabinet secretary positions and the 107th Congress has determined its Committee chairs. As much as others have moved beyond the elections, Washington insiders still have not. Recently, I helped evaluate the Nader impact (which tipped the scales to Bush in New Hampshire and Florida) and the Massachusetts voting distribution for Sen. Kennedy. Also, I'm tracking developments in the upcoming 2002 elections.
On the ASCE front, Rep. Oberstar, top democrat on the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, spoke to the ASCE National Capital Section. His informative speech covered transportation funding, traffic congestion, airline mergers, airport improvements, and Coast Guard vessels.
The January ASCE newsletter blurb on the Congressional fellowship prompted ASCE members to contact me. I talked and visited with a good number of engineers interested in politics and policy.
As a volunteer member of the ASCE Technical Committee on Lifelines of Earthquake Engineering (TCLEE) Earthquake Investigation Committee (EIC), I helped plan the Bhuj earthquake investigation trip to India. After making a slew of calls (e.g. in Congress, ASCE, FEMA, USGS, DOE, USAID), the American Red Cross stepped forward to help. They are providing flights to the damaged areas (of Ahmedabad and Bhuj), food and lodging at their compound in Bhuj, a car and driver, etc!
For the engineering community, one promising development in the 107th Congress is the new House Science Committee Chair, Rep. Boehlert (R-NY). The Committee has jurisdiction over NASA, NSF, DOE research programs, the National Earthquake Hazard Reduction Program (NEHRP) and more. Since Boehlert has announced his focus on improving education (science and engineering), environment and energy, he has been heavily lobbied by engineering schools and organizations. I recently attended a reception honoring the new Chairman hosted by ASCE, AAES, and other engineering societies.
The new U.S. Commission on National Security 21st Century report received ample attention in our office. It recommends "doubling the federal research and development budget by 2010," elevating the role of the President's Science Advisor, "recapitalizing America's strengths in science and education" and funding to increase the number of science and engineering professionals.
In contrast, President Bush is considering dismantling the White House Office of Science and Technology (which includes the President's Science Advisor), even though he has been strongly advised against it. Also, the President is planning cuts for the U.S. Geological Survey (to reduce by 22 percent) and National Science Foundation (raise by only one percent, which is below the inflation rate). Not surprisingly, Rep. Boehlert has raised concerns about this proposed science budget.
I continue to research smart growth: how it relates to public health and the clean up of brownfields in economically depressed areas. I wrote several briefings and recommendations on wastewater and water bills and problem areas in Massachusetts. I was briefed on new applications of geographical information system (GIS) and models in MA. Last, I started helping with the numerous appropriations for fiscal year 2002.
Energy is on the President and Congress' agenda so we'll be busy with energy proposals in Congress. In response to Secretary of Interior Gale Norton's intention to drill the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), I've further researched alternatives to drilling. Also, I'm researching the energy bills that have been introduced and are likely to resurface in some form. I'm curious to see how effective the new Dept of Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham (former Senator from Michigan) will be.
I met with staff from the Department of Energy, FEMA, and Pentagon. Also, I met my own representative, Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), who is rumored to run for governor in 2002.
As usual, I attended many lively receptions. New Zealand's Waitangi Day party at the Embassy was especially fun because I got to chat with their former Prime Minister. Other highlights included: the Smithsonian's Sackler museum, which co-hosted a Chinese New Year's reception complete with lion dances, traditional music and lots of yummy Peking duck.
Respectfully submitted,
Yumei Wang, P.E.
2000-2001 Fellow
