Consulting Engineers Show Their Cards 

As reported, the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee passed a new two-year, $109 million Surface Transportation Authorization (STA), but not before consulting engineer interests attempted to insert an amendment to encourage State DOTs to “utilize private engineering firms to the maximum extent possible.” Senator John Boozman (R-AR) actually claimed that using private sector engineering firms will save money and create “private sector” jobs. Since this amendment will likely surface again, please contact your United State Senators immediately and share with them the excessive cost of outsourcing engineering services. NASHTU has drafted a letter that you can customize and e-mail or fax to your senator.

Also, outsourcing advocates certainly didn’t stop with the Senate – look for similar amendments to surface during the House debate. The House is expected to move on their own version of the Surface Transportation Authorization in December. 

• Draft Letter in Opposition to Outsourcing Amendment

Senate Panel Advances Surface Transportation Authorization 

At long last, the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee published its version of a new Surface Transportation Authorization (STA) that preserves current funding levels plus inflation. Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21) passed unanimously out of the EPW committee yesterday with 18 amendments that were previously agreed to by committee leadership. For more details, click on the links below. 

• MAP-21 Summary
  

• MAP-21 Bill Text
  

• En Bloc Amendments  
  

• Manager's Amendments

NASHTU's Statement on President Obama’s Joint Session Speech 

The National Association of State Highway and Transportation Unions (NASHTU) released the following statement on President Obama’s Joint Session Speech:

NASHTU applauds the President’s commitment to transportation and other infrastructure outlined in his jobs and growth plan. Investing in public works such as highways and bridges is a surefire way to create jobs and spur economic recovery. We call on the President and Congress to ensure that the transportation investments outlined in his plan are not wasted on no-bid, design-build contracts, overpriced public-private partnerships or other forms of outsourcing that do not serve taxpayers. 

NASHTU Sponsored Legislation

H.R. 328 - the Safety, Efficiency and Accountability in Transportation Projects through Public Inspection Act of 2011

• HR 328 - Text of Bill

• HR 328 - One Page Fact Sheet

• HR 328 - Disaster Examples

• HR 328- Support Letter from Union

• HR 328 - Co-sponsorship Request Letter from Union

• Bill Summary and Status from the Library of Congress Website

Click here to view previous sponsored legislation

OMB Cracks Down on Wasteful Outsourcing

February 4, 2011

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has released a status report on their efforts to curb wasteful government contracting.  In FY 2010, federal agencies spent nearly $80 billion less than they would have if contract spending continued to grow at the same rate it had under the prior Administration.  NASHTU applauds the Obama Administration’s success in contracting reform for federal agencies, but to make government spending even more efficient, these efforts should be expanded to target federally-funded programs as well. 

• OMB Press Release -- Turning the Tide on Contract Spending

• Reducing Contract Spending Report

June 14, 2010

Read Representative Judy Chu’s (D-CA) letter to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) asking that the federal contracting reforms be expanded to apply to all state and local projects that use federal funds. 

March 31, 2010

The Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) released its draft policy letter defining inherently governmental functions that should be performed only by government employees.  Read the Federal Register Notice

October 27, 2009

WASHINGTON, October 27 – In an attempt to crack down on mismanaged and wasteful federal contracting practices while strengthening oversight and accountability capacity across the government, the Obama Administration has issued guidance today that requires federal agencies to increase the capability and capacity of the civilian agency acquisition workforce to ensure sufficient management and oversight of acquisition dollars.

The guidance also provides specific instructions for agencies to avoid high-risk contracts that can result in excessive costs being passed on to taxpayers.

• OMB Contracting Reforms Press Release (October 27, 2009)

• Plan to Increase Capability and Capacity of the Civilian Agency Acquisition Workforce

• Guidance on Increasing Competition

July 29, 2009

WASHINGTON, July 29 — President Obama in conjunction with the OMB formally unveiled contracting and workforce reforms that are designed to save the taxpayers at least $40 billion a year. The reforms, released today, focuses on three areas: improving acquisition, managing the multi-sector workforce, and contractor performance information.

"Today’s guidance is a major step forward in providing the federal government with the capacity to carry out robust and thorough management and oversight of its contracts in order to achieve programmatic goals, avoid significant overcharges, and stop wasteful spending," said OMB Director Peter Orszag.

• OMB Contracting Reforms Press Release (July 29, 2009)

• Improving Government Acquisition

• Managing the Multi-Sector Workforce

• Contractor Performance Information

March 4, 2009

WASHINGTON, March 4 (Reuters) - President Barack Obama said on Wednesday the U.S. government was paying too much for things it did not need and ordered a crackdown on spending he declared "plagued by massive cost overruns and outright fraud."

The Democrat, under fire from Republicans for the $3.5 trillion price tag for his 2010 budget plan, also took aim at predecessor George W. Bush and noted the cost of government contracts had doubled to more than half a trillion dollars over the past eight years. 

Click here to read the Presidential Memorandum

NASHTU 12th Annual Conference

Click here for the 12th Annual Conference Highlights

NASHTU would like to thank U.S. DOT Undersecretary for Policy Roy Kienitz and House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman John Mica (R-FL) for addressing the 12^th Annual Conference of the National Association of State Highway and Transportation Unions (NASHTU) in Washington D.C.

Please call 916-446-0584 or email nashtu@nashtu.us if you have any questions.