Public Policy & Infrastructure

1. Public Policy & Infrastructure Brian T. Pallasch, CAE Managing Director, Government Relations & Infrastructure Initiatives, American Society of Civil Engineers

2. Voice in Washington • Monitoring federal legislative and regulatory activities affecting civil engineering • Working with Congress to develop public policy • Delivering testimony and comments to Congress and federal agencies • Communicating back to membership

3. Why is GR Important? • Actions by government affect civil engineers: • Federal-aid highway program • Water infrastructure financing • Clean Water Act • Government Purchasing (QBS) • Civil engineering profession is highly regulated • P.E. licensure • Building Codes • Environmental standards for clean water, drinking water, wetlands, etc.

4. 2012 Priority Issues Agenda • Clean water, drinking water and wastewater issues • Natural hazards mitigation & infrastructure security • Qualifications based selection for engineering services • Science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education • Sustainable development & sustainable energy use • Transportation infrastructure

5. Issues in Depth • Research • ASCE supports engineering R&D efforts at NSF, NIST, USGS, USDOT, USDOE, etc. • House approved additional $378M above 2012 levels • Natural Hazards • ASCE supports ongoing research in multihazardsmitigation • STEM Education Coalition • Founder and member of the steering committee

6. Policy Development • Over 171 public policy statements outlining Society’s positions on issues • Policy statements allow ASCE to respond quickly and accurately when opportunities arise • Four national policy committees • All policies approved by the Public Policy Committee and the Board of Direction

7. Join an ASCE Policy Committee • Energy, Environment, and Water Policy Committee • Engineering Practice Policy Committee • Infrastructure and Research Policy Committee • Transportation Policy Committee

8. Click and Connect with Congress • One stop for communicating with elected officials • http://www.asce.org/advocacy.html • Grassroots Resources • Election Information • Legislator information • Biography • Committee assignments • Staff members • Sponsorships and voting record on CE bills • Write the Media

9. Attend a Legislative “Fly-In” • Brings members to Washington, D.C. to: • Learn about the legislative process • Visit elected officials on Capitol Hill • One applicant per Section is eligible to receive travel reimbursement stipend • Applications available at www.asce.org/govrel

10. Congressional Fellows Program • ASCE sponsors a member to work for Congress for one year • In cooperation with American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) • Participants work for a House or Senate committee or on individual member’s personal staff • 2011-12 Fellow: Helen Davis, P.E. with Rep. MazieHirono (D-HI) • 2012-13 Fellow: Natalie Beckman-Ross, P.E. Ph.D. begins September 2012

12. Grading Methodology • Based on the 1988 Council on Public Works Improvement Report Card • Data is reviewed to assess each area’s condition and performance • Seven fundamental components: capacity, condition, funding, future need, operations and maintenance, public safety, and resilience • Grades are based on the improvement and decline against the historic baseline • Methodology is assessed as part of development of each new Report Card

13. The Report Card Grading Methodology is based on: • Condition • Capacity • Operation & Maintenance • Funding • Future Need • Public Safety • Resilience

14. ASCE’s Five Key Solutions 1. Increase federal leadership 2. Promote sustainability and resilience 3. Develop national, regional and state infrastructure plans 4. Address life-cycle costs 5. Increase and improve investment from all stakeholders

15. What are the consequences if we fail to act?

19. What’s Next For ASCE? • Release of Failure to Act: Airports and Marine Ports in summer 2012 • Support for the National Surface Transportation Reauthorization process • Release of Failure to Act Summary in fall 2012 • 2013 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure to release March 2013 • New addition of mobile version

20. Report Card Mobile and App

21. Give a Local Perspective

22. Stay updated on federal, state, and local issues with This Week in Washington Get Key Alerts when legislation impacting you is moving Quickly and effectively tell your Member of Congress that you support action by using Click-and-Connect with Congress Any ASCE member can join by signing up at www.asce.org/keycontacts Get Involved as a Key Contact

23. Take Action in Your Hometown • Invite legislators to talk about local infrastructure concerns at section events and neighborhood meetings • Urge organizations you are involved with to take action on infrastructure concerns • Hold an Infrastructure Day Event (I-Day) at Your State Capitol

24. Start a State Report Card • Over 30+ state and local Report Cards completed by ASCE member committees • Government Relations staff can help get you started • New process provides additional support for Report Card committees E-mail reportcard@ asce.org and get the Report Card Guidebook!

25. Questions? ASCE Report Card: www.infrastructurereportcard.org Failure to Act Economic Studies: www.asce.org/failuretoact Key Contact Program www.asce.org/keycontact Contact ASCE: govwash@asce.org 202-789-7850