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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Washington D.C.—As the 119th Congress begins and incoming President Trump prepares to be inaugurated, an organization of 32,000 public works professionals today began delivering its new public policy priorities to each of Capitol Hill’s 535 Congressional offices.

The policies – under the broad topics of emergency management, transportation, and water resiliency – are crafted by ������˾�� members to help focus legislative and regulatory discussions as they impact communities nationwide.

“The Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act is maturing but our roads and bridges still need more attention, and our public works and engineering workforces are still not where they need to be,” ������˾�� President Dominick Longobardi said. “���ʰ´�’s public policy priorities for the 119th Congress are designed to help our elected and appointed federal officials stay focused on what has been agreed to by both sides of the aisle and remind them of what still needs to be done.”

“As an organization, ������˾�� is involved at the federal level in the development of laws and regulations that affect public works departments throughout the country,” said ������˾�� CEO Scott D. Grayson, CAE. “With a new Congress and a new president, it’s important for our membership to be able to share what’s important regarding the central needs that ensure our hometowns’ quality of life.”

“It’s an opportunity for us to make a difference,” ������˾�� Government Affairs Committee Chair Jeff May, the public works director for the City of Clive, IA, said about the release of the new policy priorities. “When you consider emergency management and the need to be able to address more and more federal disasters, the amount of money needed to address these issues is needed and very important to determining how we’re going to thrive as communities.”

To develop its public policy priorities for each new session of Congress, ������˾�� regularly surveys its members to determine key concerns. The ������˾�� Government Affairs Committee, comprised of public works experts from around the country, and ���ʰ´�’s professional Government Affairs team, then develops each priority for review and approval by the ������˾�� Board of Directors.

The policy priority areas for the 119th Congress are unchanged from the 118th Congress. However, points within each of them have been revised to reflect achievements over the past two years and declare legislative and regulatory changes still needed to best support our nation’s critical infrastructure and the public works workforce.

���ʰ´�’s Emergency Management policy priority underscores how, as first responders, public works professionals serve a vital role in ensuring national critical infrastructure functions during emergencies. Its priorities include:

• Mitigation
  • Supporting the Safeguarding Tomorrow Through Ongoing Risk Mitigation (STORM) Act
  • Enacting a five-year National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) authorization
• Communication & Coordination
  • Including public works in the development, funding, and execution of telecommunication policies, programs, congressional and federal regulatory actions
• Streamlining
• Cybersecurity
  • Including public works professionals – who have responsibility or direct oversight of systems that operate and protect assets, systems, and networks of the country’s critical infrastructure sectors – in the establishment, implementation of national cybersecurity guidelines.

���ʰ´�’s Transportation policy priority continues to work on infrastructure resilience, safety, and streamlining. It also zeros in on the infrastructure law:

• “We must work together to build upon IIJA’s opportunities to continue our momentum of retrofitting, operating, maintaining, and rebuilding all facets of our transportation infrastructure”
• ������˾�� strongly encourages the greatest possible flexibility and accommodation to local entities and in support of safety projects, including continuing to streamline permitting, reporting and other project requirements.

The Water Resiliency policy priority targets IIJA, too, and the need for Congress to “start negotiations this session for predictable, and adequate long-term infrastructure funding at similar levels.” It also advocates for:

• Flexibility and funding levels that meet lead service line replacement needs
• Creating incentives to reward proper asset management and help reverse the decline and failure of water infrastructure
• Encouraging the federal government and industry to coordinate with state and local governments on projects, and
• Adhering to regulatory standards “informed by thorough research, peer-reviewed studies, and comprehensive cost-benefit analysis” surrounding Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

Because of its critical nature, ������˾�� urges the 119th Congress (in each of its public policy priorities) to address workforce issues.

“With our nation facing workforce shortages, workforce must be a high priority. As the leader in public works education and credentialing programs, ������˾�� encourages and values continual education and professional growth opportunities for those who build, operate, and maintain our nation’s infrastructure,” each priority says.