Patrick Tierney, PE, Project Manager, Apex Companies, LLC, and BSCES Government Affairs and Professional Practice Chair
Cherry blossoms entered peak bloom as BSCES members traveled to Washington, DC to discuss policy with legislators and celebrate the release of the latest ASCE Report Card on America’s Infrastructure with ASCE members around the country. ASCE hosts the Fly-in every spring and releases the Report Card every four years to advocate for industry issues and funding needs. The attendees from our Commonwealth included Sam Liao (Strategics LLC), Phil Dunaj (WSP USA), Justin Paik (Metamagnetics, Inc.) and me (Apex Companies LLC).
The 2025 Report Card was issued the day before the Fly-in. The overall grade improved to C because of sustained investments over the last decade. However, funding levels need to be raised to maintain the grade and several categories are still below acceptable. Decades of underfunding led to an estimated funding gap is over $3 trillion, and the funding gap estimate assumes current levels are maintained. Representative Bresnahan Jr. (PA-08) presented to the ASCE group on how the ASCE Report Card is a powerful funding advocacy tool.
To review the report card please visit: https://infrastructurereportcard.org/.
On Capitol Hill we discussed the funding need outlined in the Report Card, protecting tax-exempt municipal bonds, and prioritizing resilience projects. Removing the tax-exempt status of municipal bonds was a key discussion point because tax reform is a focus of the current congress and administration, and taxing municipal bonds has been considered as a potential way to balance the budget with the next tax bill. ASCE and numerous other policy agencies oppose this action. Documentation provided by ASCE and presented to legislators outlines “doing so would only raise cost for working families” and “at least $800 billion of additional interest expense would either need to be raised from higher taxes or cut from communities planned infrastructure investment across the US by 2035.”
A panel presentation by policy directors at ASCE, US Water Alliance, US Chamber of Commerce, American Association of Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), and the National Governors Association (NGA) highlighted the need for workforce development and sustained funding. It was discussed that the next version of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which expires in 2026, should consider sustained funding for water resource projects.
It was an exciting day on Capitol Hill. Together we tackled seven meetings across four buildings in under five hours. This included scheduled meetings with the offices of Representatives Bill Keating, Jake Auchincloss and Richard Neal, and Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey. The scheduled meetings reflected our representation as constituents. Typically, at these meetings congressional staff dedicated to infrastructure policy were available to meet given advanced notice. Each representative expressed support for the ASCE priority issues and gratitude for providing resources. It is our responsibility to advocate for priorities to our representatives to consider while voting on and organizing legislation.
Additionally, we dropped into the offices of Representative Ayanna Pressley and James McGovern. Representative McGovern was in the office following a floor vote and was available to quickly meet. Representative Pressley’s office positively received the ASCE content, however, was unable to discuss because staff was dedicated to an immigration issue on the Tufts campus within the district.
Traveling to Washington, DC to visit our nation’s capital and historic monuments is a cultural experience. I encourage you to consider applying to attend the next ASCE fly-in, visit Washington, DC on your own, or even schedule a time to connect with your Representatives at their local office. Our government is eager to listen, and your voice is welcome to take part in the direction.
This link to the ASCE key contact program includes a sign up to receive policy content and information about the application for the next legislative outreach event in Washington DC.
Please reach out to me at [email protected] with any questions about the ASCE Fly-in or Massachusetts Infrastructure Report Card Development.