In August, the US Senate passed the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act (IIJA). This is an historic $1.2T infrastructure spending package with $550B dedicated to new infrastructure investments.

The legislation is now in the House of Representatives, awaiting their vote. In addition to providing funding for the nation’s infrastructure, the IIJA includes other priorities like the Senate’s five-year surface transportation reauthorization, language to address climate change, the codification of parts of a Trump-era policy on environmental reviews, the creation of programs that address resilience, and appropriate $445.9 billion in emergency funds. The surface transportation reauthorization is necessary in order to extend this program which is subject to expire on September 30th. As a result, it is important for the IIJA to be passed by the House before the end of September.

Our members have the ability to help advocate by contacting your representatives and we encourage you to do so! ASCE make this easy through Key Alerts. Members can simply CLICK this link to the Key Alert  and fill in your name and address. Letters to your representatives are automatically generated and displayed for you to review, edit if you choose to, and send.

Letters like these are important because they help politicians see what issues are important to their constituents and help to guide their priorities and decisions. It provides you an option to have a voice.  

If you are interested in other forms of outreach to your representatives, CLICK this link for the ASCE Engagement Toolkit. If you would be interested in submitting an op-ed or letter to the editor to your local media outlet touting the benefits of the bill, please let me know, and I’ll place you in contact with our Media Team to guide you through the process.

The Legislative Committee would like to continuing providing regular updates here, on the NYS Council’s website. So be sure to check back every so often.

Have a great fall everyone!

Chris Carter, PE, M. ASCE
ASCE NYS Council Legislative Committee Chair