Are You Ready for EWeek?
National Engineers Week, or EWeek, starts next Saturday (February 19 to 25) and it is a great opportunity for ASHRAE members to get out there and show your communities – and your local public policymakers – the value of engineering to society.
Initially recognized in 1951 and now governed by a coalition of more than 70 engineering and other societies and more than 50 corporate and government partners, EWeek promotes a diverse and well-educated future engineering workforce by increasing understanding of, and interest in, engineering and technology careers.
Here are a handful of ways ASHRAE grassroots champions can actively participate in influencing policymakers during EWeek:
- Meet with local policymakers and tell them what challenges you face on a day-to-day basis and what opportunities you see for moving forward. This can be done on an ad hoc, one-by-one basis or as a coordinated effort to hold a “Day at the Capitol” or “Day at City Hall.” However, if you go this route, please remember to clarify your speaking role. Chapters, sections, and their members may not speak for ASHRAE Society without prior approval by ASHRAE’s Advocacy Committee and except as permitted by the Rules of the Society Board of Directors, but may promote documents approved by the Board (e.g., standards, position statements, briefs). In addition, please note that members may speak for themselves on issues – in particular, relative to their professional credentials and technical expertise – or represent themselves as private citizens.
- Encourage your city/town councilors, mayor, state legislator(s), or governor about issuing a resolution or proclamation acknowledging EWeek and the importance of engineering. Many bodies of government are very open to citizen input as far as congratulatory or recognition-based proposals. If your state legislature is in session or if your local government council is meeting before or during EWeek, ask a member (preferably one of whom you are a constituent) to introduce a resolution celebrating EWeek. Another tack is to contact your governor’s office and inquire as to whether he/she might issue a proclamation commemorating EWeek. In some cases, there may be a deadline by which requests for proclamations must be submitted, so please be understanding if the deadline has already come and gone.
- Recognize – perhaps, through an award – policymakers who have worked on behalf of engineers in the past year. If you know of any local or state officials who have worked to preserve and enhance the engineering sector – particularly if related to HVAC&R issues – send them a certificate of merit or present them with a plaque; a little good will goes a long way.
If you are interested in organizing activities such as those listed above, or have any questions about other possible grassroots avenues for celebrating EWeek, please
contact ASHRAE’s Government Affairs Office at your earliest convenience.
U.S. Congressmen Daniel Lipinski (D-IL) and Donald Manzullo (R-IL) to Introduce Resolution Supporting Goals and Ideals of National Engineers Week
As noted above, National Engineers Week begins the week after next. In recognition of the importance role that engineering careers play in the U.S. economy, U.S. Representatives Daniel Lipinski and Donald Manzullo will introduce a bipartisan resolution in the House of Representatives supporting the goals and ideas of National Engineers Week.
President Obama Announces $100 Million Commitment to Prepare 100,000 STEM Teachers at White House Hosts Science Fair
Earlier this week, President Barack Obama unveiled plans commit $100 million and take other steps to recruit, support, retain, and reward 100,000 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) teachers to help improve students’ ability to compete in the current and future job markets. Details of the President’s proposal are available at
http://1.usa.gov/wp8xuC
The President made this announcement at the White House Science Fair, which was an attempt to showcase the importance of STEM, and encourage students to become involved in these careers.
The Science Fair celebrated over 100 students from over 45 states, including the Paul Robeson/Malcolm X Academy student team, who competed in the National Engineers Week Future City Competition.
Additional information on the White House’s Science Fair, including pictures and video, can be found at
http://1.usa.gov/wI42EC
President Obama to Release Budget Request to Congress on Monday, February 13
Next Monday the President will rollout his policy priorities for the coming fiscal year in his budget request to Congress for FY 2013. This guiding document is used by Congress to frame funding discussions, and this year will be used to bolster political election-related arguments.
Even though scant details are available on what may be contained in the President’s request, as a result of the politics of a Republican-controlled House and Senate-controlled Senate, the largest proposals in the President’s budget are fairly likely to be considered dead on arrival. Likewise, the possibility of Congress passing funding bills through the regular processes is unlikely to occur as Members of Congress clash over philosophical differences and vie for political dominance. Additional information on the President’s request will be included in the next Government Affairs Update.
HPBCCC Holds Congressional Briefing on the Design, Construction, Operation & Maintenance of High-Performance Federal Buildings
The High-Performance Building Congressional Caucus Coalition (HPBCCC), which ASHRAE chairs, held a briefing on Capitol Hill last week entitled “Reducing Taxpayer Dollar Waste by Improving Federal Building Design, Construction, Operation & Maintenance: The High-Performance Federal Buildings Act (H.R.3371)”. As its title suggests, this briefing focused on the how the federal government is seeking to reduce its energy consumption and reduce the burden on taxpayers by improving the federal building stock.
Representative Russ Carnahan (Co-Chair of the High-Performance Buildings Caucus) spoke at this briefing, as did the following:
- Kevin Kampschroer; Federal Director; Office of Federal High-Performance Green Buildings, U.S. General Services Administration
- Tim Unruh, PhD, P.E., LEED® AP, CEM, CSDP; Program Manager; Federal Energy Management Program; U.S. Department of Energy
- Christopher P. Hodges, P.E., CFM, LEED® AP; IFMA Fellow; International Facility Management Association
Civilian Property Realignment Act Passes House with Life-Cycle Costing Requirement Included
The Civilian Property Realignment Act (CPRA) (H.R.1734) passed the House by a bipartisan vote of 259 to 164. The CPRA would help the federal government reduce unutilized space. Included in the bill is a requirement to use life-cycle cost analysis in the design or lease of federal buildings receiving at least 50 percent federal funding, and which construction cost is over $1 million, or the space to be leased is over 25,000 square feet. This provision was offered (and accepted) as an amendment to the CPRA by Rep. Russ Carnahan.
According to a press release on the passage of the bill, the bill could result in the generation of “$15 billion in revenue from property sales, in addition to the billions more generated from future cost avoidance from simply owning less property. Within the first 180 days after the commission is set up, H.R. 1734 will generate $500 million in taxpayer savings.” For additional information visit
http://bit.ly/AejstQ
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