June 03, 2020
The following is a statement by K.N. Gunalan “Guna.” Ph.D., P.E., President, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) in response to the House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee’s 2020 surface transportation infrastructure bill, the Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation in America (INVEST in America) Act: “The INVEST in America......
Dams Infrastructure Needs in the Spotlight
May 22, 2020
The need for investment in our nation’s dams was in the spotlight this week as record rainfall caused two dam failures in Michigan and one potential dam failure in Virginia, resulting in the evacuation of thousands of residents. The two dams that failed in Michigan were high hazard potential dams, or dams whose failure is......
May 16, 2020
The following is a statement by K.N. Gunalan “Guna,” Ph.D., PE, President, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) on the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act: “We are pleased that the recently passed House COVID-19 relief bill, the HEROES Act, recognizes that the nation’s transportation and water infrastructure sectors have been seriously......
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.,......