• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

ACEC of SC

  • About
    • BYLAWS
    • BOARD OF DIRECTORS
    • BOARD OF DIRECTORS – PRIVATE
  • COVID-19
  • Membership
    • Affiliate Membership
    • Membership Directory
    • Committees
  • Advocacy
  • Events
  • News
    • ACEC-SC First Word Newsletter
  • Scholarships
  • Awards

ACEC President David Raymond’s Monthly Update

January 20, 2014

Although December is typically a slow month in Washington, “Team ACEC” put some points on the scoreboard – notably passage of the WRDA bill in the House and an ACEC-backed budget agreement to increase caps on discretionary spending by $63 billion over two years. Looking ahead, the New Year – an election year – will pose challenges, but we intend to prevail with final passage of the WRDA bill now in conference, MAP-21 reauthorization, and regulatory reforms. Our record 2013 ACEC/PAC fundraising of more than $755,000 (and still counting) gives us a powerful war chest to help propel our legislative agenda.

PRESIDENT’S MONTHLY UPDATE – January 1, 2014

  • ACEC/PAC raised a record $755,000-plus in 2013 (we’re still receiving funds that were sent to us at year’s end), and ACEC/Illinois raised more than any other state: over $62,000, the most ever raised by an MO.
  • Total firm membership in ACEC rose from 5,015 at the start of the fiscal year to 5,076 (1.3% gain) by the end of the second quarter, and employee strength grew from 328,063 to 372,253 (a whopping 13.5% gain) during the same time period, reflecting the Council’s continuing value and appeal.

Government Advocacy

  • House and Senate conferees continue to reconcile their Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) bills, with a final agreement expected in early 2014.
  • Congress cleared an ACEC-backed budget agreement to increase caps on discretionary spending by $63 billion over two years and replace the impending automatic across-the-board sequestration with targeted cuts and federal fee increases.
  • The House overwhelmingly passed legislation supported by ACEC to protect engineering firms and other businesses from so-called “patent trolls”.
  • ACEC has joined in an amicus brief asking the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a federal circuit court case that upheld the EPA’s veto of a Corps of Engineers dredging permit issued three years earlier to a mining company.
  • Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) introduced ACEC-backed legislation to raise the federal gas tax by 15¢/gallon and transition to a vehicle miles traveled (VMT) system to create a stable, long-term funding source.
  • ACEC/PAC hosted fundraisers for Senator Ed Markey (D-MA), House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA), and Reps. Bill Pascrell (D-NJ), Derek Kilmer (D-WA), Dan Lipinski (D-IL), and Lee Terry (R-NE).

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Footer

Info

  • About
  • Membership
  • Advocacy
  • Events
  • News
  • Contact
  • ACEC-SC First Word Newsletter

Contact Info

ACEC of SC
P. O. Box 11937
Columbia, South Carolina 29211-1937
Phone: (803) 771-4271
FAX: (803) 771-4272
[email protected]

Upcoming Events

  1. Member Firm Employee Scholarship Application Due

    April 15
  2. 2021 Scholarship Golf Tournament

    April 19
  3. SC Engineering Conference and Trade Show

    June 3 - June 5

View All Events

Due to Governor McMaster’s orders and to reduce the spread of COVID-19, ACEC of SC will start working remotely effective immediately. If you need assistance, please contact us via email or personal cell phones.

© 2021 · ACEC of South Carolina