October 27, 2011

House Repeals Withholding Tax
The House passed H.R. 674 by a vote of 405 to 16. The measure would repeal a requirement set forth in the Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act of 2005 (PL 109-222) that federal, state, and local governments withhold 3% of all payments to engineering firms and other vendors as tax. If the requirement is not repealed, the tax will take effect on January 1, 2013.
 
Earlier this week, NSPE signed on to a Government Withholding Relief Coalition letter to the House of Representatives in support of H.R. 674. NSPE is a member of the Government Withholding Relief Coalition, a group of more than 140 organizations that share the goal of repealing the 3% withholding law.
 
The Obama Administration also issued a Statement of Administrative Policy in support of the bill, citing the need to reduce the burden on government vendors, especially small businesses. The Senate now must act on the House-approved legislation.
 
AAES Seeks White House Support for Engineering for the Americas
The American Association of Engineering Societies sent a letter to White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director John Holdren requesting support for an Organization of American States funding proposal that would sustain and expand Engineering for the Americas' university-government-private industry partnerships. Engineering for the Americas is an international grassroots and governmental coalition that seeks to promote economic and social development in the Western Hemisphere by increasing the number of qualified engineers.
 
NSPE is a member of the AAES International Activities Committee.

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October 20, 2011

NSPE Continues to Urge Withholding Tax Repeal
NSPE signed on to a Government Withholding Relief Coalition letter to the Senate supporting the Withholding Tax Relief Act of 2011 (S. 1726), which would repeal the 3% withholding tax enacted in Section 511 of the Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act of 2005 (PL 109-222). The Senate may vote on the bill at the end of October.
 
The House is expected to vote on its bill repealing the 3% withholding mandate (H.R. 674) next week.
 
NSPE Attends DOE Nuclear Commission Meeting
NSPE Executive Director Larry Jacobson and Senior Manager of Government Relations Sarah Ogden attended a Blue Ribbon Commission on America's Nuclear Future meeting. The Blue Ribbon Commission, which falls under the purview of the Department of Energy's Office of Nuclear Energy, has been tasked with conducting a comprehensive review of policies for managing the back end of the nuclear fuel cycle, including all alternatives for the storage, processing, and disposal of civilian and defense used nuclear fuel, high-level waste, and materials derived from nuclear activities. The commission issued a draft report of its findings in July.
 
NSPE commented before the panel in August and September 2010 on the critical role of professional engineers in nuclear safety.

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October 13, 2011

NSPE Supports Repeal of Withholding Tax
The House Ways and Means Committee approved H.R. 674, which would repeal a requirement set forth in the Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act of 2005 (PL 109-222) that federal, state, and local governments must withhold 3% of all payments to engineering firms and other vendors as tax. If the requirement is not repealed, the tax will take effect on January 1, 2013. The bill next will move to the House floor for consideration.
 
NSPE joined members of the Government Withholding Relief Coalition in sending letters to House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp (R-MI-4) supporting H.R. 674. Read NSPE's letter here. NSPE is a member of the Government Withholding Relief Coalition, a group of more than 140 organizations that share the goal of repealing the 3% withholding law.
 
The Withholding Tax Relief Act (S. 164) in Senate Republicans' "Real American Jobs Act" also contains a repeal of the 3% withholding tax. Supporters of H.R. 674 hope strong bipartisan passage of the House bill will spur similar Senate action.

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October 6, 2011

NSPE Participates in Virtual Forum on Education Technology
NSPE Senior Manager of Government Relations Sarah Ogden participated in a Brookings Institution webcast on "Education Technology: Revolutionizing Personalized Learning and Student Assessment," where a panel of government, academic, and private-sector representatives discussed how education technology can enhance K–12 student performance and engagement. Speakers included Secretary of Education Chief of Staff Joanne Weiss, University of Washington professor and Director of the Center for Game Science Zoran Popovic, ePals.com cofounder and Chief Learning Officer Nina Zolt, and K12 Executive Vice President of School Services Chip Hughes. The Brookings Institution recently released a paper analyzing case studies of K–12 programs that use education technology to personalize student learning and assessment, which can be read here.

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October 5, 2011

NSPE Attends Building Safety Congressional Briefing
NSPE Senior Manager of Government Relations Sarah Ogden participated in a "Building Safety in the Face of Natural Disasters" congressional briefing, sponsored by the High-Performance Building Congressional Caucus Coalition and the Congressional Hazards Caucus Alliance. The briefing focused on the critical role of building codes in community resilience following disasters. Speakers included HPBCCC Cochair Rep. Russ Carnahan (D-MO-3), Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety President and CEO Julie Rochman, National Institute of Building Sciences President Henry Green, and Fairfax County building official and International Code Council Board member Guy Tomberlin.
 
NSPE is a member of the HPBCCC, a coalition of more than 100 associations and corporations that seeks to heighten awareness and inform policymakers about high-performance building issues, including new building technologies, enhanced U.S. economic competitiveness, and increased energy efficiency. The coalition provides guidance and support to the congressional High-Performance Buildings Caucus.

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October 4, 2011

NSPE Supports Investment in Energy Efficiency
NSPE Senior Manager of Government Relations Sarah Ogden attended the Alliance to Save Energy's annual Summit on Capitol Hill, "Driving Energy Efficiency as the 'Next Big Thing.'" Panels of government and private-sector representatives from across the globe discussed issues including how governments are investing in energy efficiency, implementation and finance of energy efficiency technologies, and the connection between water conservation and energy efficiency.
 
Among the speakers were General Services Administrator Martha Johnson, Department of the Navy Assistant Secretary for Energy, Installation and Environment Jackalyne Pfannenstiel, Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE), Rep. Brian Bilbray (R-CA-50), New York Power Authority Acting President and CEO Gil Quiniones, IHS Cambridge Energy Research Associates cofounder and Chairman Daniel Yergin, Best Buy Senior Vice President and General Manager of New Business Customer Solutions Group Neil McPhail, Coca-Cola Company Director of Energy Management and Climate Protection Bryan Jacob, and Citigroup Global Markets Director Alfred Griffin.

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