ASCE Responds to FEMA Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities Program
May 13, 2020
By: Martin Hight ASCE filed comments with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on May 11th, in response to a request for comments on its Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant program. The BRIC program supports states, local communities, tribes, and territories in projects that reduce risks from disasters and natural hazards. This grant......
May 06, 2020
In a markup this week, the Senate Environment & Public Works Committee unanimously passed their bipartisan Water Resources Development Act legislation, S. 3591 entitled America’s Water Infrastructure Act (AWIA) of 2020, as well their Drinking Water Act of 2020, S. 3590. The substitute amendment to the America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2020 included proposed changes......
ASCE Supports Paid Sick Leave Tax Credit Parity Between Private and Public Employers
April 28, 2020
This week, bipartisan legislation was introduced to restore parity between private and public sector employers regarding eligibility for payroll tax credits to alleviate the costs of paid leave during the coronavirus pandemic. ASCE supports the Supporting State and Local Leaders Act, which was introduced by Rep. Schneider (D-IL), Rep. Katko (R-NY), Rep. Cox (D-CA), Rep.......
Poll: Voters Overwhelmingly Support More Investment in Water Infrastructure
April 28, 2020
If there is anything that can bridge the partisan gap between Americans, it’s reliable, safe, and high-quality infrastructure. In fact, 80% of Americans support rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure more than almost any other top issue facing the current Administration, according to the Value of Water’s 2020 National Survey on Public Opinion on Water Infrastructure, hot......
Congress Provides Small Businesses Much-Needed, Additional Relief
April 23, 2020
The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, while still evolving, continues to take toll on the civil engineering profession – especially when it comes to maintaining and operating small businesses. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, passed in late March, created the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), allocating $349 billion for low-interest loans that......
April 22, 2020
This week, the Senate Environment & Public Works Committee has released a draft of their bipartisan WRDA 2020 bill, entitled America’s Water Infrastructure Act (AWIA) of 2020, which keeps Congress on track with the biennium WRDA reauthorization schedule. This bill authorizes $17 billion in infrastructure projects and reauthorizes the EPA’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund......
Mississippi’s Infrastructure Gets a ‘D+’; Grades Unveiled in Virtual Press Conference
April 14, 2020
The ASCE Mississippi Section released the 2020 Report Card for Mississippi’s Infrastructure this morning in a virtual news conference, announcing grades and solutions for 14 infrastructure categories. Due to the ongoing spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and risks posed by large gatherings, the Section held the press conference virtually. Speakers included Jennifer Sloan Ziegler, Ph.D.,......
New Bridge Data Support Subpar 2017 Grade
April 13, 2020
The American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) has released its annual Bridge Report based on the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) 2019 National Bridge Inventory. ARTBA’s Bridge Report confirms the “C+” grade given in ASCE’s 2017 Infrastructure Report Card. Both reports illustrate that while the overall number of bridges deemed structurally deficient is decreasing,......
State DOTs Request $50 Billion In Emergency Relief Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
April 08, 2020
As the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to take hold over our nation, state departments of transportation (DOT) are beginning to see a dramatic revenue loss as Americans stay in quarantine. To combat these losses, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) urged Congress this week to provide $50 billion in......
U.S. Department of Transportation Releases Automated Vehicle Policy Statement
April 01, 2020
From the horse carriage to the invention of the automobile and now the development of connected and autonomous vehicles (CAV), technology continues to redefine how we move within the built environment. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) continues to address these fundamental concerns by providing policy statements which provide a framework on CAV technology development......