 |
Public Policies & Objectives | |
Resources |
|
Policy Statements | |
Archives |
|
Activities | |
Coalitions & Taskforces |
|
Fast Facts |
AAES FAST FACTS
May 3, 2002
May 3, 2002
May 3, 2002
Allison Salyer, Editor
asalyer@aaes.org
WASHINGTON UPDATE
The nation's unemployment rate shot up to 6 percent in April-the highest point in nearly eight years-even as U.S. companies added jobs for the first time in nine months. The Labor Department is reporting that payrolls grew by 43,000 during the month, a welcome sign after companies had slashed jobs to cope with last year's recession and the jolt of the September 11 attacks. Still, job growth wasn't strong enough in April to take care of an increase of people entering the workforce during the month. That caused the unemployment rate to rise from March's 5.7 percent rate. After more than a year of sustained job cuts, temporary help firms added 66,000 positions in April, the third straight month of job gains. Economists say that's a particularly encouraging sign for job growth in general in the months ahead. Companies often hire temporary workers before they hire new full-time workers. More information can be found at www.ap.org
The Senate on a voice vote confirmed Elias A. Zerhouni, executive vice dean of the Johns Hopkins University Schoolof Medicine, as director of the National Institutes of Health. The Algerian-born radiologist will take over the nation's premier biomedical research agency. NIH funds more than 2,000 biomedical projects in the United States and employs more than 10,000 people.
The House of Representatives easily approved a six-year farm bill that would boost subsidies to farmers by $31 billion, overcoming arguments that it is too costly and threatens trade relations with key partners. The measure, adopted 280-141, would add $9 billion to conservation programs and formally end a drive, begun in 1996, to reduce the government's involvement in farm economics. The bill's biggest beneficiaries would be growers of traditional row crops such as wheat, corn and cotton. But the bill also contains hefty new federal payments to peanut farmers, the dairy industry and soybean growers. President Bush is expected to sign the bill by the end of next week. More information can be found at www.washingtonpost.com
The Bush administration has begun planning for an international peace conference on the Middle East early this summer to accelerate negotiations over a final political settlement between the Israelis and Palestinians, Secretary of State Colin Powell announced yesterday. The gathering will take up not only political issues but also discussions over stemming violence by Arab militants and enhancing the economic prospects of the Palestinians. At the same time, the conference will address the broader regional conflict with the aim of making progress on long-stalled peace talks between Israel and its northern neighbors, Syria and Lebanon. More information can be found at www.washingtonpost.com
Association News
ASME
ASME ISSUES GENERAL POSITION PAPER ON RISK ANALYSIS
ASME Board of Governors has approved a General Position Paper to promote risk analysis as a technically sound and socially responsible way to help in decision making by industry, government, and the general public. The paper outlines 9 'guiding principles' that advance the understanding, use, and acceptance of risk analysis for integrating science, engineering, and technology into public policy decision-making.
For more information, the full text of the paper can be found at: www.asme.org/gric/ps/2002/02-15.html, or contact Francis Dietz at dietzf@asme.org.
ASME TASK FORCE CHAIR TESTIFIES ON BUDGET FOR NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Dr. Tim Wei, ASME National Science Foundation Task Force Chair, testified at a House Appropriation hearing on the FY 2003 NSF budget. Wei voiced strong support for NSF, 'not only for its value to mechanical engineering but also to the nation's long-term global technological leadership.' Wei focused his testimony on the need for a balanced federal research and development (R&D) portfolio. He carefully defined balance as not equality, but as 'proportionately ensuring all critical functions are sustained in both the short-term and long-term.'
Wei's testimony is based on a position statement that can be found at: www.asme.org/gric/ps/2002/02-09.html For more information, contact Patti Burgio at burgiop@asme.org
TASK FORCE SUBMITS TESTIMONY ON FY 2003 NIST BUDGET REQUEST
An ASME task force has released a position statement on the proposed FY 2003 budget of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
The Task Force expressed strong support for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership, which would be drastically cut in the Administration's proposed budget for NIST. The Task Force noted that 'the MEP incorporates competitive business practices and technologies into small- and medium-sized enterprises ń companies that create a significant number of jobs.'
In addition, the Task Force endorsed a proposal by Department of Commerce Secretary Don Evans to reform the Advanced Technology Program (ATP). ATP funding comes under attack in Congress every year because critics believe it provides federal funding to wealthy corporations who could afford to pay for the research themselves. The Task Force stated that, 'by implementing the proposed reforms, cooperative technology programs such as ATP, far from being ëcorporate welfare,' as has been alleged by detractors, have been catalysts in bringing government, industry, and universities together to enhance the economic competitiveness of the nation.'
Secretary Evans's reform proposal can be found at: www.atp.nist.gov/atp/secy_rept/contents.htm The task force's position statement can be found at: www.asme.org/gric/ps/2002/02-19.html For more information, contact Francis Dietz at dietzf@asme.org
COUNCIL ON EDUCATION SUBMITS TESTIMONY ON DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION BUDGET
ASME's Council on Education has submitted testimony for inclusion of the hearing record of the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education. The testimony focused on the Math and Science Partnership (MSP) program at the Department of Education.
The Council strongly urged appropriators to fully fund the MSP program at the authorized level of $450 Million. In FY 2002, MSP was authorized at $450 Million, but appropriated at $12.5 Million. Because the funding is under $100 Million, the grants are competitive through the Department of Education, and all states do not have to receive funding.
The statement (02-20) will be found on ASME's Government Relations web site, www.asme.org/gric For further information, contact Patti Burgio at burgiop@asme.org.
AIChE
Leslie Robertson, the structural engineer of the World Trade Center, will be speaking here at the National Building Museum on Sunday, May 5, at 4:00. He is in DC on the occasion of the Museum's Henry C Turner Prize for Innovation in Construction Technology, of which he is the first recipient. Robertson is clearly one of the greatest designers of his day. His many innovations includes the Shaftwall partition system now almost universally used for fire-resistive walls in tall buildings, mechanical damping units to minimize wind-induced sway in skyscrapers, and the first composite megastructure space-frame high-rise building.
For reservations, please call 272-2448. Last minute attendees will also be accommodated.
IEEE-USA
On 26 April, IEEE-USA filed comments with the Department of Health and Human Services on proposed modifications to the HHS standards for "privacy of individually identiable health information." See:www.ieeeusa.org/forum/POLICY/02april26.html
On 25 April, IEEE-USA endorsed Dr. Denice Denton, Dean of Engineering at the University of Washington, for appointment to the National Science Board. See:
On 24 April, IEEE-USA R&D Policy Committee Chair Ronil Hira testified before the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Science, Space and Technology in support of homeland security-related legislation (S.2037, S.2182) before the committee. See: www.ieeeusa.org/forum/POLICY/02april24.html
On 23 April, IEEE-USA wrote to Senate and House Energy and Water appropriators requesting increases in FY2003 Department of Energy funding for transmission reliabliity research. See:www.ieeeusa.org/forum/POLICY/02april23.html
NSPE
NSPE supported a bill which the House Transportation & Infrastructure (T&I) Committee passed (H.R. 3694) to restore $4.4 billion in federal highway funding for FY03. The core federal highway program is $31.8 billion in Fyo2, but was set to drop $8.6 billion because the guaranteed funding formula - called Revenue Aligned Budget Authority (RABA) had reduced revenue die to the recession, although there is $20 billion balance in the trust fund. The legislation would raise the FY03 highway funding level to $27.76 billion. If highway spending were allowed to fall below the level set in the first year of TEA-21, it would lower the baseline and probably the funding in next year's TEA-21 reauthorization.. The president supports increasing highway and construction funding for FY03 by $4.4 billion above his original budget request.
The federal government's General Schedule pay system is "antiquated," does not reflect market pay levels, and has minimal ability to encourage and reward achievement and results, according to a white paper from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). The federal pay system precludes agencies from tailoring their pay programs to their specific missions. According to the report, the current federal pay system was established in the late 1940s, at a time when more that 70 percent of federal white-collar jobs consisted of clerical work. In particular, the report said, a more flexible system is needed that allows agencies to tailor their pay practices to recruit, mange and retain employees with the talents needed to accomplish their missions. OPM has promised NSPE the opportunity to review a revised Engineer (800) series this summer. NSPE has discussed with OPM Director James the need to establish pay parity between engineers and other licensed professionals in federal service.
Discussed a permanent R&D tax credit with House Ways & Means Chair Bill Thomas (R-CA), who said it is unlikely that the issue would be dealt with this year.
Met with Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS) to discuss a Senate resolution commemorating Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day.
NSPE April Monthly Report
The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure passed H.R. 3930, the Water Quality Financing Act of 2002, which amends the Clean Water Act by adding a $20 billion five-year authorization for the State Revolving Loan Fund (SRF). It has a number of significant differences from the Senate bill, S. 1961. The administration opposes the authorization of $35 billion over five years called for in the Water Investment Act (S. 1961) and the $20billion in HR 3930 to pay for water and wastewater infrastructure, saying it is not consistent with spending priorities for defense and security. NSPE is working to add QBS amendment to both bills before they go to the floor. NSPE supports a $57 billion authorization for both clean and safe water SRFs, with no additional requirements that give EPA authority to add conditions to the current funding program.
A draft report by EPA says that by 2019, the accumulated gap between actual and necessary investments in water infrastructure is likely to exceed $650 billion. The Water Infrastructure Network (WIN), of which NSPE is a founding member, estimates the gap by 2020 at $1 trillion.
The Senate passed the Democratic energy bill (S. 517) which calls for an ambitious increase in auto mileage standards (defeated in favor of an amendment to allow NHSTA set CAF… standards). The Senate rejected an effort by Republican lawmakers to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) for oil and gas exploration, which is a major component of the administration's energy policy. NSPE supports adoption of a comprehensive energy policy that includes new production, including ANWR. Other amendments which failed include provisions on global climate change and electric restructuring. Price Anderson Act reauthorization, which protects engineers working at nuclear power plants as well as nuclear remediation sites, was passed. NSPE President Dan Clinton wrote all 100 Senators urging passage of a comprehensive bill that includes increased domestic energy supplies through a reasonable permitting process that includes reasonable standards, expanded efficiency, additional funding for research and development, and new source development incentives.
Nevada Governor Kenny Guinn (R) formally vetoed the proposal to create a high level nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain. Congress now has 90 legislative days to overturn the veto, which requires a majority vote in each chamber. The House is likely to override, but the outlook in the Senate is less clear. About 15 senators are undecided about siting the repository. NSPE L&GA Committee reviewed the issue and decided to seek input from the NVSPE before taking a final position on the issue.
The NSPE Legislative & Government Affairs Committee approved comments on proposed rules regarding changes to the Resource Conservation & Recovery Act (RCRA). NSPE comments were restricted to the certification of Certified Hazardous Material Managers (CHMM), which the rules would allow to perform engineering services on hazardous waste sites. NSPE strongly objected, urging that engineering services only be performed by PEs, PEs who were also CHMMs, or CHMMs under the direct supervision of a PE
The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) announced a "comprehensive plan" that includes a "four-pronged approach to reducing workplace musculoskeletal disorders. The four prongs consist of industry-specific and task-specific guidelines, strong and effective enforcement, extensive outreach and assistance, and research. According to OSHA Administrator John Henshaw, OSHA will release guidelines on ergonomics "this year," but they are not ready yet. While the agency will issue industry-specific guidelines, Henshaw indicated that OSHA has "not determined exactly where we will start." He said the agency will focus first on high hazard industries. The L&GA Committee and NSPE President Dan Clinton met with John Henshaw, the Administrator of OSHA, to discuss the agency's proposed voluntary ergonomics guidance and the Voluntary Protection Program.
NSPE hosted the US Agency Advisory Group (UAAAG) meeting. Eighteen top engineering managers from federal agencies participated top discuss NSPE's efforts to expand registration among federal engineers and improve pay offsets comparable with other federal professionals.
The L&GA Committee and NSPE President Dan Clinton met with Major General Robert Griffin, P.E. and Dwight Beranek, P.E., Chief of the Division of Engineering & Construction of the Corps of Engineers, and his staff to discuss the Corps' licensure policy, infrastructure security and the NSPE/USACE Partnership Agreement.
L&GA Member and NSPE COFPAES Delegate Steve Brown P.E. and Larry Bory met with Senator Mary Landrieu's (D-LA) staff to discuss association health plan legislation, attended the meeting of the Joint A/E Committee on Federal Construction to discuss public/private partnerships legislation for redeveloping surplus federal property with Representative Pete Sessions (R-TX) and the administration's procurement reform efforts with Angela Styles, Director of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP).
GR staff attended PAC events for Roy Blunt (R-MO), Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Norm Coleman, the Republican nominee opposing Senator Paul Wellstone (D-MN). Also attended a Meet & Greet for newly elected Representative John Sullivan (R-OK).