Educating & Advocating from Texas to Washington DC

Austin Messerli PE Government Affairs Committee Co-Chair

The ASCE Texas Section’s Government Affairs Committee (GAC) has been hard at work planning various events, educating the Architectural, Engineering, and Construction (A/E/C) industry, and working with members of the Texas Legislature across the State. Despite the challenges we are all facing, the Texas Section GAC has not wavered in working to meet the needs of our members by contacting our policymakers to educate and advocate on behalf of Texas Civil Engineers.

2022 Legislative Fly-In

In early March, 21 Texas Section members from across the State attended the Washington DC ASCE Legislative Fly-In. Some gathered in person for networking and training sessions, while others participated virtually. This was the first Legislative Fly-In held with an in-person option in DC since 2019.

Members of ASCE visit the nation’s capital once a year to advocate for #federal #investments. Through the hard work of ASCE Government Affairs staff, Texas Section GAC members met with the offices of both United States Senators from Texas and the offices of many of Texas’s US Representatives. We received a TON of briefings on key policy issues before the US Congress right now obtained guidance on conducting effective advocacy meetings, and received executive summary briefing papers to furnish to the staff in each member’s office.

Speakers included:

U.S. Representative Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ). ASCE Honorary Fellow, 2022

U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH). ASCE Honorary Fellow, 2022

Congressman John Katko (R-NY), ASCE Honorary Fellow

Dr. Geraldine Richmond, Undersecretary for Science and Energy, US Dept of Energy

Secretary Shawn Wilson, Louisiana DOT

Commissioner Victoria Sheehan, NHDOT

Commissioner Russell McMurray, GDOT

Dennis Truax, Ph.D., PE, DEE, D.WRE, F.ASCE, ASCE President

Maria Lehman, PE, ENV SP, F.ASCE ASCE President-Elect;

Caroline Sevier, Director of Government Relations, ASCE

Eleanor Lamb, Manager, Federal Government Relations, ASCE

Brad Fitch, President and CEO, Congressional Management Foundation

Martin Hight, Sr. Manager, Federal Government Relations

Matthew McGinn, Sr. Manager, Federal Government Relations

Pictured: (Left to Right): Jenni Peters, CAE, Carol Haddock, Bill Hanson, Travis Attanasio, P.E, CFM, Patrick M. Beecher, P.E., Lizan Gilbert, P.E., Sofia Carrillo, Allen Bud Beene, PE, F.ASCE, Silky Wong, PhD, SE, PE, CEng MICE, F.SEI, LEED AP, Tiffany Reed-Villarreal, P.E., ENV-SP, M.ASCE, Sean Merrell, P.E., PTOE, RAS, F.ASCE, and Augustine Verrengia, PE
Not Pictured: Tim Abrams, Veronica O. Davis, PE, Jean-Louis BRIAUD, Sidney Edmonds, Lawrence Goldberg, Griselda Gonzales, P.E., ENV SP, M. ASCE, Austin Messerli P.E., and Manika Sharma, E.I.T.

This year’s meetings with our legislature members were an outstanding opportunity to build on previous efforts, discuss the numerous benefits of the recent Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) legislation, and continue to discuss the ever importance of infrastructure. The Fly-In is an annual event that is open to all members who are ASCE KEY CONTACTS. If you are interested in getting involved with Texas Section GAC activities or attending the fly-in next year, please become a Key Contact (link to website) and be on the lookout for the application in the fall and take advantage of being a part of next year’s events.

Also, if you want to join the Texas Section Government Affairs Committee, do not hesitate to reach out to the committee at [email protected].