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Up until now, much of the focus in Washington has been on the new Administration – such as Executive Orders and efforts by the DOGE to shrink the size of government – and how organizations like ACEC can look for opportunities where there is alignment and take actions to protect the industry when those actions impede the critical work we perform. That focus is starting to shift to Congress, where the House and Senate are attempting to move competing budget blueprints that will define how tax reform and other major policy initiatives move forward.
The Senate acted last week in passing a so-called “skinny” resolution, covering funding for border security, defense, and a handful of other Administration priorities, with the idea that a subsequent budget plan would be adopted later to carry tax reform and other priorities. The House is taking a different approach in attempting to move a resolution that seeks to do it all, including defining the scope of what a year-end tax package will look like.
Whether the House Speaker has the votes to pass the bill is an open question. Ultimately both houses of Congress must agree on a single budget resolution to move forward. Much like our engagement with the Administration, ACEC is also engaging Congress, voicing our priorities on tax and other policies to shape the agenda as much as possible.
Change is a constant in Washington and managing that change on behalf of your businesses is why ACEC exists. That change is also the impetus behind our new online education offerings.
Earlier today, more than 1,100 ACEC members participated in our briefing on how President Trump’s Executive Orders surrounding DEI will affect engineering firms. If you were unable join the live session, or if you would like to watch it again, the on-demand video can be accessed here. But the change we’re seeing isn’t just political. Next Wednesday, ACEC/Michigan will host a session entitled The Future of Engineering Leadership. Although some of this session will be Michigan-specific, the topics will be universal for firms and leaders outside the Wolverine State. You can register here.
Speaking of our MOs doing great things: a big shoutout to ACEC Indiana for securing local FOX coverage of Engineers Week, and a big thank you to everyone who participated. As you were telling the story of engineering in your communities, the ACEC team took to Capitol Hill on Wednesday to host an Engineering and Public Works Open House at the Rayburn House Office Building. The event attracted more than 100 House staff from both sides of the aisle. We were joined by our partners in the Engineering and Public Works Roadshow, APWA and ASCE, and a special thank you goes to ACEC member Keith Foxx of FOXXSTEM for taking time out of his day to join us at the event.
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Check out our E-Week webpage to see all the ways our firms commemorated the week.
Finally, I want to close by noting a major ACEC milestone. Five years ago today, we began to lay the groundwork for what has since become the engineering industry’s premier source of thought leadership and original scholarship. Over the last half decade, the ACEC Research Institute has established itself as the go-to resource for industry analysis and intellectual rigor. Through its research on topics like Design-Build, Lump Sum Contracting, and QBS, to its yearly economic forecasts and quarterly deep dives into engineering business sentiment, the Institute provides reliable, at-your-fingertips data that tell the story of engineering and empowers journalists and policymakers alike to better understand our industry. In Spring 2023, the Institute launched Firm of the Future, an intensive exploration of what our industry needs to do to adapt to a business landscape that is constantly evolving. In a related effort, the Institute launched its Diversity Roadmap that summer and saw its scholarship grants double to $85,000. By 2024, that number had approached $1 million – and growing.
And the Institute is getting noticed. Earlier this month, Mike Carragher penned a column in Informed Infrastructure magazine that focused on the Institute’s recent Economic and Business Sentiment Reports. Following up on that column, Mike will participate next Wednesday in a live online webinar with the magazine during which he will discuss “Engineering’s Economic Impact, Industry Sentiment, and Future Outlook: Insights for 2025 and Beyond.” I encourage you to sign up for what will be a great event.
The ACEC Research Institute illuminates the critical role our industry plays in the overall economy, demonstrating how what we do fuels prosperity and progress. That’s a service to every ACEC member and firm. When people understand engineering, they appreciate and admire engineering. When we are making the case for our industry – whether it’s to a policymaker or a potential engineering student – the work of the Institute elevates the perception of our industry and reinforces its importance in shaping our communities. Congratulations to Institute Chair Mike Carragher and Vice Chair Steve Lefton, Past Chair John Carrato, and Executive Director Daphne Bryant on a stellar five years. Here’s to the next half decade and beyond.
Have a great week,
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Linda Bauer Darr, President & CEO
American Council of Engineering Companies | ACEC
Linkedin | X
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American Council of Engineering Companies, 1400 L St NW, Suite 400 Floor, Washington, DC 20005
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