This Week in Washington
For the Week Ending June 21, 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:
- Senate Approves School Modernization Measures, House Short on Support
- ASCE Joins in Thanking Congressional Leaders for Work on Education
- Drinking Water Remains at Top of Congressional Agenda
- Federal Highway Administrator to be Named
- State Government Relations Update
1. Senate Approves School Modernization Measures, House Short on Support
As expected, the Senate approved, by a vote of 91-8, S. 1, the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act Authorization Act on Thursday,
June 14.
Included in the Senate bill was an amendment by Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) which would mandate a Department of Education study of the effects of dilapidated school buildings on children's health and learning, as well as authorizing a new $50 million grant program for school repairs related to energy efficiency.
In related House of Representatives news, supporters of H.R. 1076, “America’s Better Classroom Act,” have reached 218 co-sponsors, though 8 more are needed for a voting majority because 4 co-sponsors are non-voting delegates. There are now 23 Republicans, 294 Democrats and 1 Independent co-sponsors for the bill. The legislation would provide federal tax credits to pay the interest on $25 billion in bonds for school construction and modernization. Even with 218 co-sponsors, there has been no action in either the Ways and Means Committee or the Education and Workforce Committee. In an effort to force action, House Democrats, lead by freshman Brad Carson (D-OK), have filed a discharge petition to force Republican leaders to consider the bill. It would take a majority of 218 signatures on the petition to force consideration. To date, 199 Representatives have joined the effort. No Republican, not even the bill’s lead sponsor Nancy Johnson (R-CT), has signed the discharge petition. Copies of all legislation are available at thomas.loc.gov.
ASCE’s 2001 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure gave the nation’s schools a D-. The full Report Card can be accessed at: www.asce.org/reportcard/.
2. ASCE Joins in Thanking Congressional Leaders for Work on Education
ASCE has joined with 63 organizations in letters thanking Senate Finance
Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) and Ranking Republican Charles
Grassley (R-IA) for their efforts to include an extension of Section 127
in the “Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001.” The
same letter will also be sent to Representatives Clay Shaw (R-FL) and
Sander Levin (D-MI) for their long-term commitment in supporting an
extension of Section 127 in the House. Section 127 is the exemption for
employer paid educational assistance. It was permanently extended as
part of the tax bill.
3.Drinking Water Remains at Top of Congressional Agenda
More than 1,500 drinking-water providers gathered on the steps of the
U.S. Capitol on June 20 to demonstrate support for safe and clean
drinking water. EPA Administrator Christie Whitman joined with five
congressional leaders on safe drinking-water issues to take part in the
American Water Works Association's (AWWA) rally, called to promote safe
drinking-water funding with government leaders.
"Today's rally demonstrates the great importance of safe and clean water to all Americans," said Whitman. "I am committed to working with AWWA in a partnership to protect this vital resource and ensure that Americans continue to have the best drinking water in the world."
Whitman was joined by Senator Bob Smith (R-NH), Rep. Paul Gillmor (R-OH), Rep. John Duncan (R-TN), Rep. Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY), and Rep. Robert Borski (D-NJ). The congressional leaders discussed their views on how government can support the nation's drinking-water providers in overcoming the problems inherent in providing millions of Americans with an ample supply of safe, affordable drinking water.
4. Federal Highway Administrator to be Named
According to press reports, the Bush Administration has chosen Mary
Peters, currently the head of the Arizona Department of Transportation,
to lead the Federal Highway Administration (FHwA). Peters has been
involved in both the American Association of State Highway Officials and
ITS America. There are, however, two important slots still to be filled
at FHwA: the deputy administrator and executive director positions. It
has been rumored that the executive director position, historically held
by an engineer, may be filled by a non-engineer. ASCE has sent a letter
Secretary Mineta emphasizing the need for executive director position to
be filled by an engineer.
6. State Government Relations Update
ASCE provides updates on individual state government matters affecting
civil engineers. For more information on the following item(s), 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.
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. These bills affect the civil engineering profession, but ASCE National has not taken a position on them unless otherwise noted.
Nevada A.B. 3, formally A.B. 133, was signed into law. Among other provisions, it requires a certificate of merit to proceed with a lawsuit against a design professional.
New Jersey S.B. 2345 establishes and extends statutes of limitations for cleanups of brownfields and clarifies liability for purchasers of contaminated sites.
S.B. 1740 authorizes the issuance of $250 million in bonds for bridge repair and rehabilitation.
New York S.B. 5633 establishes a corporate and personal income tax credit for purchasing wind electric generation equipment.
A.B. 9203 creates a program for brownfields site assessment, acquisition, and remediation.
A.B. 5262 allows for the licensing of professional geologists.
S.B. 5470 amends the continuing education requirements for professional engineers, requiring 45 hours every 3 years.
