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AAES
FAST FACTS
March 7, 2003
March 7, 2003
March 7, 2003
Allison Salyer, editor
asalyer@aaes.org
Washington News
The number of U.S. payroll jobs unexpectedly plunged 308,000 last month, the largest monthly decline since late 2001, while the nation's unemployment rate ticked up to 5.8%, the Labor Department recently reported. Most analysts had expected only a small change, up or down, in payrolls following a 185,000 rise in January. Instead, the report showed significant declines in a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, construction, retail trade, transportation and additional services. Additional information may be found at http://www.dol.gov
Chief U.N. weapons inspector Hans Blix told the Security Council this morning that Iraq's cooperation with inspectors has been accelerating, a development he called "welcome" but still short of the unconditional cooperation demanded by Security Council resolution. His presentation highlighted a day of fast-breaking diplomatic activity that produced little if any change in the Security Council's deep split over how to deal with Iraq. The United States, Britain and Spain insisted that Blix's report demonstrates Iraqi noncompliance with Security Council resolutions requiring full disarmament and the need to take more forceful action; France, Russia, Germany and China restated their view that the inspectors are making progress and that all alternatives to war must be exhausted before any resort to force. Additional information may be found at http://www.washingtonpost.com
Aiming to trim the ranks of 41 million uninsured individuals, U.S. Senator Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine) introduced late this week, Association Health Plan (AHP) legislation to give small businesses the same market-based advantages and competitive leverage that large employers and unions enjoy when providing employees health insurance. In coalition with Senators Jim Talent (R-MO) and Kit Bond (R-MO), as well as Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao and SBA Administrator Hector V. Barreto; Snowe introduced "The Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2003." Under the bill, small businesses would be able to pool together, nationally, through trade associations, and either purchase their health insurance from a provider, or self insure in the same way that large employers and unions currently do. Studies by the Small Business Administration, the General Accounting Office, and the Congressional Budget Office have all found that AHPs operate with between 13 percent and 30 percent lower administrative costs. The bill also includes extensive new protections to safeguard national AHPs from the current epidemic of fraud and abuse that is occurring through sham trade associations that take money from unsuspecting small businesses and then are either unable or unwilling to pay claims filed by subscribers. Additional information may be found at http://sbc.senate.gov and http://www.house.gov/smbiz
Late this week, the Senate unanimously approved a treaty to slash U.S. and Russian nuclear weapons deployments by two-thirds over the next decade, another milestone in the disarming of two powers that once threatened each other with horrific attacks. The treaty, signed last year in Moscow by President Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin and awaiting approval by the Russian parliament, calls on each nation to reduce deployments of strategic, or long-range, weapons to between 1,700 and 2,200 weapons by the year 2012—their lowest levels since the 1950s. Additional information may be found at http://www.washingtonpost.com
Society News
IEEE-USA
IEEE-USA will join with NIST and Carnegie-Mellon University in sponsoring a workshop on Identifying, Developing, and Evaluating Information Technology Products and Services for Secure Government and Infrastructure Applications on May 20 in Gaithersburg, Maryland. See: http://www.ieeeusa.org/conferences/secureit/default.asp
IEEE-USA's 2003 Government Fellows are all in place: David Conner (Rep. Dana Rohrabacher), Joseph Czika (House Science Committee), Thomas R. Schneider (Sen. Diane Feinstein), Donald Silversmith (U.S. State Dept.) and Peter Winokur (Sen. Harry Reid).
On March 3-4, IEEE-USA joined ASME and others in co-sponsoring an Engineering R&D Symposium highlighting the federal outlook and priorities for fiscal year 2004.
On Feb. 28, IEEE-USA conveyed an endorsement of legislation (H.R. 125) to restore the congressional Office of Technology Assessment to bill sponsor, Rep. Rush Holt (NJ). See: http://www.ieeeusa.org/forum/POLICY/2003/022803.html
On Feb. 12, IEEE-USA wrote to members of the Senate Government Affairs Committee supporting the forthcoming confirmation of Dr. Charles McQueary as Under Secretary for Science and Technology in the Department of Homeland Security. See: http://www.ieeeusa.org/forum/POLICY/2003/021203.html
On Feb. 12, the IEEE-USA Board of Directors approved new position statements on the H-1B Visa, Accelerating Broadband Deployment in the U.S., Remote Sensing, and Non-Negotiable Terms and Conditions in the Sale or Transfer of Computer Software and Other Digital Works. See IEEE-USA positions on-line at: http://www.ieeeusa.org/forum/POSITIONS/index.html
ASCE
HOUSE TRANSPORTATION & INFRASTRUCTURE LEADERS MAKE CASE FOR FY 2004 HIGHWAY FUNDING
Leaders of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee testified Thursday before the House Budget Committee asking for a minimum of $50 billion in budget authority for federal highway and transit programs in fiscal year 2004. This represents a significant increase over the FY 2003 funding level of $31.8 billion before a 0.65 percent across-the-board cut applied to all FY 2003 spending. In a letter to Budget Committee Chairman Jim Nussle (R-OK) and Ranking Democratic Member John Spratt (D-SC), Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Don Young (R-AK), Ranking Democratic Member James Oberstar (D-MN), Highways, Transit and Pipelines Subcommittee Chairman Thomas Petri (R-WI) and Ranking Democratic Member William Lipinski (D-IL) referenced Department of Transportation data that estimated the nation's needs for highway funding at $53 billion annually just to maintain current conditions and congestion levels. An investment of $74.8 billion annually would be required to actually improve safety and congestion problems. The leaders stressed that their support for the funding was based in the desire to provide for economic growth, as well as improve safety and congestion problems. For more information visit http://www.house.gov/transportation/
SENATOR WYDEN ADVOCATES RELEASE OF HIGHWAY FUNDS
On the other side of Capitol Hill, Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore. called on the Senate to release $4 billion in highway funding due to states, arguing the money would provide a much needed shot in the arm to the economy. A Senate source said Wyden would likely attempt to include authorizing language in the FY04 budget resolution, and subsequently push Congress to include the funding in any upcoming FY03 supplemental appropriations bill. Senate Democrats, as well as a number of GOP lawmakers, have increasingly seen federal transportation funding as a way to provide a quick boost to the nation's flagging economy. Senate Environment and Public Works Chairman Inhofe recently highlighted the economic effects of highway and transit funding during a panel hearing on the Bush administration's FY04 highway spending proposal. The Bush administration, however, has largely balked at increasing highway spending and has instead proposed a slight decrease in federal funding this year.
ASCE PARTICIPATES IN ENGINEERING R&D SYMPOSIUM
ASCE, along with most of the other major engineering societies, conducted an Engineering R&D Symposium on March 4th and 5th on Capitol Hill. Members of ASCE's National Research Policy Committee attended the meeting. Participants were given an overview of the entire federal engineering research and development effort. Speakers included Dr. G. Wayne Clough, Hon.M.ASCE and President of the Georgia Institute of Technology and Chairman of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST). A complete rundown of speakers along with some of the materials they shared is available at http://www.engineeringpolicy.org
NIST TO INVESTIGATE RHODE ISLAND FIRE
The National Institute of Standards and Technology announced it will conduct an investigation into the deadly nightclub fire in East Warwick, RI. This will be the first investigation under the authority of the National Construction Safety Team (NCST) Act. ASCE supported the Act that was passed in 2002 in the wake of the World Trade Center attack. Modeled after legislation that created the National Transportation Safety Board, the Act gives NIST the authority to investigate building failures that result in significant loss of life. More information is available at http://www.nist.gov
ASCE SPONSORS TOWN HALL MEETING IN HONOLULU, HI
ASCE organized a Town Hall Meeting on transportation infrastructure needs in Hawaii and the Honolulu area on February 28, 2003, just prior to the start of the Zone IV Leadership Conference for Section and Branch Leaders. Over 50 local and out-of-town guests came to hear Cheryl Soon, Director, Transportation Services for the City and County of Honolulu and Cliff Slater, Columnist for the Honolulu Advertiser speak on transportation needs and solutions for the Honolulu area.
ASCE organized Town Hall Meetings in conjunction with all four Zone Leadership Conferences which took place in January and February in Albany, NY, Jacksonville, FL, and Dallas, TX in addition to Honolulu.
ASCE Congressional Fellow's Report - February, 2003
February saw passage of an Omnibus Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 2003, delivery of President Bush's Fiscal Year 2004 Budget Request, and continued organizing of the 108th Congress.
All of these activities have an impact on my work with the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Passage of an FY '03 Appropriations Bill means that agencies like the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Transit Administration now know with certainty how much funding they have to carry out their missions in this fiscal year. Similarly, state and local government concerns about uncertainty of federal funding have been relieved.
The T&I Committee is very interested in the Administration's Budget Request for Highways and Transit, not only for the 2004 funding levels alone but also because 2004 funding levels will have a major impact on budget levels for future years. U.S. Department of Transportation officials briefed Committee staff on the Budget Request on February 3. During the following weeks, the Committee prepared its own budget request and delivered it to the House Budget Committee as part of the process leading to a congressional budget resolution for FY '04.
Committee organization was completed during February. Organization is done at both the party level – in the Democratic and Republican committee caucuses – and at the full committee level. Committee Rules, an Oversight Plan, the selection of Ranking Minority Members of the Subcommittees, and assignment of Members to subcommittees were all approved.
My personal activities were quite varied and interesting during February. I prepared remarks for presentation by one of the Committee members – Congressman Elijah Cummings – to the National Governors Association. His speech was carried live on C-SPAN on February 23. It's a rewarding experience to see your work used to inform a group of elected officials.
I took the lead for the minority staff in preparing a subcommittee hearing on highway and transit research held on March 4. My role included selecting witnesses to testify, in cooperation with the majority staff; preparing an opening statement for Ranking Minority Member Oberstar; and preparing questions to ask witnesses. I served as counsel for the minority during the hearing. The hearing witnesses included representatives of the U.S. Department of Transportation, state transportation agencies, and other organizations in the research community.
Late in February the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials held a Washington Briefing. Leaders of the 50 state departments of transportation assembled in Washington to learn about transportation legislation. Along with two colleagues on the T&I Committee staff, I had the opportunity to brief these leaders on the status of reauthorization of highway and transit programs. As is true of many other events during a Congressional Fellows' year, the AASHTO briefing was a great opportunity for meeting and networking with leaders in the transportation community. These leaders included Jim Codell and Tom Stephens, the President and Vice-President of AASHTO, and Congressman Tom Petri, Chair of the Highways and Transit Subcommittee.
Jonathan Upchurch, P.E., PhD.
2002 – 2003 ASCE Congressional Fellow
ASME
ENGINEERING SOCIETIES HOLD R&D SYMPOSIUM IN WASHINGTON
"The Administration should improve funding levels for physical sciences and engineering, establish a major program of fellowships to attract and support advanced U.S. graduate students in science and engineering, and charge the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy to assess and analyze federal R&D in the contexts of national interest, international competition, and human resource needs," stated Dr. G. Wayne Clough, a member of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) in his keynote address to over 100 engineers participating in an ASME-initiated Engineering R&D Symposium. The Symposium, "Federal Outlook and Priorities for FY 2004," was held on Capitol Hill on March 3-4, 2003. Sponsored by ASME along with AIChE, ASCE, ASHRAE, IEEE, and SAE, the Symposium focused on the Administration's FY 2004 budget request for critical science and technology (S&T) agencies, such as the Department of Defense (DOD), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Department of Energy (DOE), and the National Science Foundation (NSF).
ASME President Susan Skemp opened the symposium. Additional speakers included: Dr. Arden Bement, Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology; Dr. Stephen Merrill, Executive Director of the National Research Council's Board on Science, Technology, and Economic Policy; and Mr. David Goldston, Chief of Staff of the House Committee on Science.
Dr. John H. Hopps, Deputy Director of Defense Research and Engineering at the U.S. Department of Defense, focused his luncheon address on maintaining America's security through a strong national science and engineering workforce. DOD has launched the Defense Joint Education Operation, in which the defense labs will provide outreach to local schools highlighting a "materials world module" curriculum that integrates multiple technical subjects.
Monday afternoon breakout sessions dealt with funding of key issue areas, including fuel cells, aeronautics, and bioengineering. Breakout session speakers included: Dr. Kevin Hurst, Policy Analyst, Office of Science and Technology Policy; Mr. Paul F. Piscopo, Staff Director, Commission on the Future of the Aerospace Industry; Kevin O'Connor, Executive Director, American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering; and Dr. Ann Brach, P.E., Transportation Research Board of the National Research Council. Attendees related a consensus R&D message regarding the Administration's FY 2004 budget by participating in visits to key federal agencies and over 50 members of Congress.
Available speaker presentations and further information on the symposium can be found at: http://www.asme.org/gric/engineeringpolicy/R&D/Agenda2003.html, or by contacting Reese Meisinger at meisingerr@asme.org.
WORKSHOP ON K-16 SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS (STEM) EDUCATION TO BE HELD IN SEATTLE
On March 22, 2003, ASME's Region VIII, the ASME Board on Government Relations, and the University of Washington Mechanical Engineering Department will hold a day-long workshop entitled, "Building Educational Pathways: The Future of K-16 Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education."
The event will be held from 9 AM to 4:30 PM at the University of Washington. The workshop is free for ASME members and student members, and costs $39 for non-members.
This workshop will provide engineers an opportunity to gain tools needed to interact with elected officials, and to understand the challenges that K-16 STEM education will face in the state budget this year. Confirmed speakers include: Washington State Senator David Schmidt; Judy Hartman, Office of Governor Locke; and Dr. David Thorud, University of Washington Acting Provost.
Workshop updates and registration information are available at http://www.asme.org/gric/StateActionPrg/WA2003/Agenda2003.html For more information, contact Melissa Murray at murraym@asme.org.
ASME ANNOUNCES SUPPORT OF ASSOCIATION HEALTH PLAN BILL
In a recent press release, ASME has announced its support for the "Small Business Health Fairness Act," legislation to address the two biggest health care issues facing small business and the self-employed—access and cost. The bipartisan, bi-cameral supporters of this bill are: Senator Jim Talent (R-MO). Representatives Ernie Fletcher (R-KY), Cal Dooley (D-CA), Nydia Velasquez (D-NY), House Employer-Employee Relations Subcommittee Chairman Sam Johnson, and House Education and Workforce Chairman John Boehner (R-OH).
"Access to affordable health insurance is a major problem for many of the 26 million uninsured Americans who live with families supported by the self-employed or small business employees. ASME International and other professional societies and trade associations have tried to fill that void by offering health insurance plans to their members. Unfortunately, the myriad of state regulations and mandatory coverage requirements make it very difficult to offer coverage in all 50 states…" ASME is unable to offer group health insurance to cover over 19,000 of its members residing in nine states due to the high cost of their mandates and required coverages."
The recent press release can be found at: http://www.asme.org/pi/pr/2003/021103a.html. More information about the Coalition Supporting Access and Choice through Association Health Plans can be found at: http://AHPsNow.com, or by contacting Patti Burgio at burgiop@asme.org.
MEMBERS IN TEXAS OBJECT TO UNRESTRICTED USE OF TITLE "ENGINEER"
ASME Region X Vice President Brian Dietz recently sent a letter on behalf of members in Texas to the state's Sunset Review Commission opposing the unrestricted use of the title "engineer," one of the new recommendations put forth by the Commission this legislative session.
"When someone presents himself or herself as an engineer, the public should be confident this person has complete competence in the field. A person presented as an engineer implies to the general public that the individual has completed a rigorous course of study such as that provided by an ABET accredited engineering curriculum, mentorship under experienced engineers, and continuing education and training. The public should know that the engineer is qualified to assess the scientific and mathematic fundamentals relating to a design, problem, or situation and make a reasoned, engineering judgment as it relates to the public good." A copy of the letter is available on-line at: http://www.asme.org/gric/ps/2003/03-05.html.
The Sunset Review Commission's report can be found at: http://www.sunset.state.tx.us/78threports/tbpe/dec_02.pdf. The parts of interest are numbers 13-16 under "New Issues." To date, no legislation has been introduced to implement the Commission's recommendations. For more information, contact Melissa Murray at murraym@asme.org.
AERONAUTICS R&D REVITALIZATION BILL INTRODUCED IN HOUSE AND SENATE
Senators George Allen (R-VA) and Chris Dodd (D-CT) have joined Representatives John Larson (D-CT) and J. Randy Forbes (R-VA) in reintroducing the Aeronautics Research and Development Revitalization Act of 2003 (H.R. 586/S.309). This legislation would double NASA's investments in aeronautics R&D over five years, reestablish the NASA Office of Aeronautics, direct NASA to shift its R&D focus toward ambitious "stretch goals", increase FAA R&D funding, and provide scholarships for aeronautical engineering.
The Aviation Coalition, which ASME leads, recently sent endorsement letters to the bill sponsors stating, "As we approach the centennial of the Wright Brother's first flight, it is more important than ever that America renew its national commitment to leadership in aviation. We commend you for your leadership in introducing this important legislation, and we look forward to working with you and other Members of Congress, in re-establishing the investment in aeronautics research and development as a national priority." Those letters can be found at: http://www.asme.org/gric/ps/2003/03.04.html.
The bill text and summary is available on-line at: http://www.house.gov/larson/aerospace/
More information on the bill can be found at: http://www.house.gov/larson/pr_030206aero.htm, or by contacting Kathryn Holmes at holmesk@asme.org.
MATH AND SCIENCE PARTNERSHIPS RECEIVE $101 MILLION FOR FY 2003
In the recently-signed FY 2003 spending bill, the Math and Science Partnership program at the Department of Education received $101 million. The $101 million figure is important, because the authorizing law for these programs (Title II Part B of No Child Left Behind Act of 2001) requires the funds to be disbursed to the states when funding reaches $100 million.
Currently, because the program only received $12.5 million in funding for FY 2002, the grants were administered by the U.S. Department of Education. This means that now these partnership funds will go as formula grants directly to each State, and the State Education Agency will be responsible for administering local grants to partnerships throughout the state.
The K-12 Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Coalition, which ASME leads, previously sent letters to the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman with jurisdiction over the Department of Education. Those letters can be found at: http://www.asme.org/gric/ps/2003/03-03.html For more information, contact Patti Burgio at burgiop@asme.org.
OHIO SECTIONS SUPPORT SCIENCE INVENTION CENTERS
The ASME Ohio Council recently issued a statement encouraging the reintroduction of legislation in the state legislature to establish Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) invention centers. The centers would provide after-school STEM enrichment activities, and would be open to all children six through eighteen years of age. The legislation was introduced last year as House Bill 595, but unfortunately did not make it out of Committee. ASME is working with other science and technology associations to promote STEM education efforts in the state of Ohio. The text of the letter can be found at: http://www.asme.org/gric/ps/2003/03-01.html. For more information, contact Melissa Murray at murraym@asme.org.