February 28, 2012

NSPE to Cosponsor Engineering Public Policy Symposium
NSPE will cosponsor the 2012 Engineering Public Policy Symposium, which will be held in conjunction with the National Academy of Engineering Convocation and the American Association of Engineering Societies Awards. Entitled "Outlook for Federal Funding of Research and Development," the symposium will feature Administration officials, members of Congress, and congressional staff who will discuss the potential impact of proposed automatic spending reductions on future research priorities.

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February 23, 2012

NSPE Presents Federal Engineer of the Year Award
NSPE honored Steven Arndt, Ph.D., P.E., of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission as Federal Engineer of the Year at the 33rd Annual Federal Engineer of the Year Awards. The award recognizes outstanding professional engineers employed by federal agencies and the military. NSPE member Rep. David McKinley, P.E. (R-WV-1), served as the keynote speaker.

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February 21, 2012

NSPE Supports R&D Tax Credit
NSPE Senior Manager of Government Relations Sarah Ogden participated in an R&D Credit Coalition teleconference to discuss federal legislation that would promote domestic research and manufacturing. NSPE is a member of the R&D Credit Coalition, a group of more than 275 trade and professional associations and companies of all sizes that collectively represent millions of American workers engaged in U.S.-based research throughout major sectors of the economy, including aerospace, agriculture, biotechnology, chemicals, electronics, energy, information technology, manufacturing, medical technology, pharmaceuticals, software, and telecommunications. The objectives of the coalition are a strong, permanent R&D credit of commensurate rate for all companies; a 20% simplified credit; and an extension of the traditional credit.

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February 18, 2012

Congress Recognizes National Engineers Week
Rep. Dan. Lipinski (D-IL-3) sponsored a House resolution (H. Res. 552) supporting the goals and ideals of National Engineers Week. Lipinski, an engineer, has introduced a resolution in support of E Week every year since 2006. Watch his floor speech here.

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February 16, 2012

NSPE Attends White House Science and Technology Budget Briefing
NSPE Senior Manager of Government Relations Sarah Ogden attended a science and technology budget teleconference with White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director John Holdren and Office of Management and Budget Associate Director for Natural Resources, Energy and Science Sally Ericsson.
 
Federal Prison Industries Reform Bill Would Ensure Fair Competition
NSPE Senior Manager of Government Relations Sarah Ogden attended a briefing and press conference regarding the Federal Prison Industries Competition in Contracting Act of 2011 (H.R. 3634). Reps. Bill Huizenga (R-MI-2) and Carolyn Maloney (D-NY-14) spoke in support of the legislation, which would require Unicor, a government-owned corporation that employs federal prisoners, to compete with the private sector for federal contracts to provide goods and services. The bill also would prohibit Unicor from competing for contracts in which inmates would have access to sensitive or classified information. NSPE is monitoring the legislation.

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February 13, 2012

NSPE Attends NSF Budget Rollout
Senior Manager of Government Relations Sarah Ogden represented NSPE at the National Science Foundation's 2013 budget announcement, where NSF Director Subra Suresh stressed the importance of federal investment in science and engineering to U.S. competitiveness. President Obama has requested $7.373 billion for NSF in FY13, a 5% increase over current levels. NSF's engineering programs would receive $876.33 million.

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February 10, 2012

Small Business Administration Increases Engineering Size Standard
The Small Business Administration has issued a final rule increasing the size standard for engineering firms from $4.5 million to $14 million in average revenues over three years. The rule will take effect on March 12, 2012. NSPE has supported increasing the size standard to allow more engineering firms to compete as small businesses.

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February 9, 2012

NSPE Urges Congress to Keep STEM in Education Bill
NSPE sent a letter with the STEM Education Coalition to House Education and the Workforce Committee Chairman John Kline (R-MN-2) urging him not to strip provisions that support science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education from the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
 
NSPE is a member of the STEM Education Coalition, which supports STEM programs for teachers and students at the Department of Education, National Science Foundation, and other agencies that offer STEM-related programs. The coalition is composed of more than 1,000 diverse groups representing all sectors of the technological workforce. 
 
Transportation Reauthorization Proceeds in Senate
The Senate agreed by a vote of 85–11 to begin considering its transportation reauthorization bill, the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (S. 1813). The bipartisan effort is a striking contrast to the House's American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act of 2012 (H.R. 7), which is also expected to hit the floor next week but has garnered no Democratic support and has come under fire from conservative factions within the GOP. With the current transportation funding extension set to expire on March 31, Congress must move quickly—but partisan rancor and election-year politics have raised doubts that Congress will be able to pass a long-term bill before November. A ninth short-term extension of current funding levels may be more likely.
 
NSPE believes that appropriately funded infrastructure systems directly benefit the public's health, safety, and welfare. Without a strong infrastructure, our national economic position, including our nation's workforce, production, health, safety, and overall welfare is at risk. Enacting long-term federal transportation legislation is critical because it would enable the long-range planning required to bring U.S. infrastructure into a state of good repair. Read NSPE's position statement on infrastructure here.
 
 
NRC Approves First New Nuclear Reactors Since 1978
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved by a vote of 4–1 the first licenses to build reactors in more than 30 years. The reactors will be built from a standardized design that promises to speed construction and reduce costs. NRC Chairman Gregory Jaczko was the sole dissenter, objecting on the grounds that the NRC has yet to finalize post-Fukushima safety enhancements. Nuclear energy currently provides about 20% of the United States' electricity.
 
NSPE believes that the United States should lead the world in the advancement and use of nuclear power. Green, clean, renewable nuclear power systems will provide an important component in our nation's efforts to reduce reliance on foreign oil and to reduce the releases of harmful pollutants. NSPE believes, however, that licensed professional engineers should be required to have direct supervision over all engineering design, operations, and maintenance decisions at nuclear power plants. Though the nuclear energy industry has an excellent safety record, it is an inherently dangerous industry whose potential for disaster necessitates an additional degree of protection for the public health and safety. Read NSPE's position statement on nuclear electric power here.

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