1. State Advocacy Captains Training
Welcome!
ASCE – Washington, DC
November 14, 2016

2. Goals
Your role as State Advocacy Captain and objectives beyond today’s training
ASCE Government Relations structure and resources
Activities to enhance advocacy efforts in your state and Region
Network with fellow State Advocacy Captains
What skills do you hope to put to work back home?

3. Advocacy Captain Duties
Serve as a liaison between the Section/Branch and ASCE GR staff
Promote ASCE’s priority issues to elected officials, key policymakers and state licensing boards
Coordinate advocacy efforts with other Section/Branch Committee activities
Recruit volunteers to assist with Section/Branch GR Promote government relations activities and Key Contact Program to ASCE members
Serve as a “State Lead” at Fly-In
Provide regular updates to local Section/Branches on GR issues

4. Government Relations at ASCE
Profession is well respected by policymakers
Known for Report Card on America’s Infrastructure
Large membership presents challenges and opportunities
Sections/Branches lead the effort
Governing structure also presents challenges for advocacy
Government Relations Protocol when representing ASCE
Contacts with policy makers need to be coordinated with ASCE GR Department.
Examples: Comments on rulemaking, requests to speak at events, requests for information from policy makers and regulators

5. Member Committee Oversight

6. ASCE Can and Does Lobby!
501(c)(3) organizations are permitted to lobby
Ok to advocate for issue or legislation or regulatory action
Prohibited from political activity
Not ok to give money to candidates, endorse candidates
ASCE national can provide guidance
See AFJ Tips handout and ASAE advocacy article.

7. State Government Relations
Expanded state government relations program in 2011
Move to become more pro-active
State Government Relations Committee provides guidance to the program
Participation with national groups
National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL)
National Lieutenant Governors Association (NLGA)
Council of State Governments (CSG)
Members are the key to success
Society provides support and resources to Sections and Branches

8. Are We For It or Against It?
160+ policy statements
Approved by Board of Direction
Provide guidance on public policy
Give permission to act on public policy
Reviewed on 3-year cycle
Survey of members determines 4-5 priority issues at state level
Board approves priority issues

9. 2017 State Priority Issues Licensing
Qualifications Based Selection for Engineering Services
Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM) Education
State Support for Civil Engineering Higher Education
Sustainability
Tort Reform & Indemnification for Pro Bono Services
Transportation Infrastructure Financing
New for 2017 are:
State Support for Civil Engineering Higher Education
Tort Reform & Indemnification for Pro Bono Services

10. Local Engagement is Critical
ASCE relies on volunteers to be advocates
Very few Sections/Branches have any staff
Very few have lobbyists
Role of Society staff: Provide guidance, support, expertise, resources

11. Tools We Give Our Members
State Government Relations Resources
Financial support for events/SPAG
Assistance hiring state lobbyists
Weekly legislative update (state and federal)
Legislative tracking service
“How to” SGR manual
PR/GR University
Staff support
Legislative alerts
Press outreach
Talking points, testimony, research
Social media and blogs
Live demos: Engage, State Track (?), Website, Social Media – FB & Twitter, and Infrastructure Report Card

12. Government Relations Staff
Managing Director, Government Relations & Infrastructure Initiatives (202)
Brian Pallasch
Sr. Mgr. Infrastructure Initiatives
(202)
Director, Public Affairs & Infrastructure Initiatives (202)
Carolyn Sofman
Director, State Government Relations (202)
Aaron Castelo
Mgr. State Government Relations (202)
Maria Matthews
Manager of State Media Relations (202)
Becky Moylan
Sr. Mgr. Federal Government Relations (202)
Whit Remer
Mgr. Federal Government Relations (202)
Laura
Hale
Sr. Mgr. Federal Government Relations (202)
Martin Hight
Sr. Manager External Communications (703)
Lynn Wallace
Specialist, Media Relations (703)
Olivia Wolfertz
Sr. Mgr. Grassroots Advocacy (202)
Beth Ann Ray
Government Relations Coordinator (202)
Heather Smith

13. Influencing Public Policy
Success requires agreement among engineering constituencies
More controversy on an issue, less likely legislators are to take action
Disagreements need to resolved (or neutralized) before going to legislature
Engaging members of State Licensing Board is key

14. “Must Do” Activities
Make GR part of regular business of Section / Branch
Incorporate into board meeting agenda, communications and website
Establish GR Committee / or at least a designated contact
Develop GR priorities for Section / Branch
Participate in state capitol “legislative day”
Track state legislation – keep members informed
Link to ASCE’s bill tracking service!
Monitor state licensing board activity / attend meetings
Produce a local/state infrastructure Report Card

15. More advanced activities
Join / establish coalitions
Testify on legislation
Write an editorial / letter to the editor
Consider hiring a lobbyist
Identify members to serve on the licensing board
Invite a public official to speak at Section/Branch meeting
Participate in State Public Affairs Grant Program (SPAG)

16. Levels of Advocacy Engage Familiarize yourself with the issues
Why are these issues important to engineers?
How do they affect public health, safety and welfare?
What is ASCE’s position?
Advocate
Take action
Makes your voice heard
Educate the public
Lead
Represents the profession
Inspire others to act
Serve in ASCE leadership

17. Become a Key Contact! Receive timely Key Alerts
Act on Key Alert alerts
Read This Week in Washington
Mobilize ASCE members in support of ASCE’s Vision, Mission, and Goals
Influence public policy
Establish and grow relationships w/ elected officials
Build coalitions with likeminded organizations
Provide professional development skills in business development, government relations, and public affairs
One-click, pre-drafted s to communicate with federal and state elected officials.
And if you’re not a Key Contact but receive This Week in Washington, which most of you should it comes out every Friday around noon Eastern, click on the link and take action when you see a Key Alert because….
More info:

18. Key Contact Program Quarterly Webinars Advocacy Training
Federal Advocacy Captains
Legislative Fly-In: March , 2017
Back Home Meetings, Town Halls, & Coffees
Outstanding Civil Engineer Advocate of the Year: Individual & Team
FREE Key Contact-only webinars & issue briefings.
Advocacy training for Key Contacts that helps hone elevator pitches, maximizes influence, and gets results.
Brings civil engineering issues to Congress at the annual Legislative Fly-In in DC.
Back Home Meetings materials to further relationships with elected officials in their district.
Leadership opportunities as Federal and State Advocacy Captains.
Celebrates Outstanding Civil Engineer Advocate of the Year Awards

19. You Can Make a Difference!
“Woodrow Wilson's nomination of Brandeis to the Supreme Court on Jan. 28, 1916, aroused a dirty political fight. Six former presidents of the American Bar Association and former president of the United States William Howard Taft denounced Brandeis for his allegedly radical political views. Some anti-Semitism was involved, for Brandeis was the first Jew ever nominated for America's highest court. Finally, however, the fight was won in the Senate, and Brandeis took his seat on June 5, 1916, where he served with distinction until Feb. 13, 1939.”

20. ASCE Strategic Initiatives
Sustainable Infrastructure
Report Card for America’s Infrastructure
Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure
Grand Challenge
Influence major policy changes and infrastructure funding levels, while challenging civil engineers to focus on innovation, rethink life cycle costs, and drive transformational change—from planning to design to delivery.
Raise the Bar
Promotes change in state licensure laws to increase the education requirements necessary for P.E. licensure

21. Infrastructure at the State Level
Infrastructure consistently one of the top issues facing state leaders
In recent years, states have taken the lead on generating new revenue for transportation
There are several key factors that have caused states to take action:
 Chronic funding gaps and years of underinvestment
Aging infrastructure and growing transportation demand
Declining gas tax revenues and political “reluctance” to raise federal gas tax
States finally recovering from recession
Uncertainty of federal program

22. Activity in the States 2016 Infrastructure Funding Legislation:
New Jersey 23-cent gas tax increase
Infrastructure Bank passed in Nebraska
Ballot Measures: North Carolina (Spring), Alabama, California, Illinois, New Jersey, Maine, Missouri (Fall)
2015 gas tax increases: Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Michigan, Nebraska, South Dakota, Utah, Washington
North Carolina restructured gas tax formula
2014 gas tax increases: New Hampshire
2013 gas tax increases: Maryland, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Wyoming
Virginia transitioning to wholesale tax
Starting with Wyoming’s approval of a 10-cent gas tax hike in February 2013, we’ve seen gas tax increases or reforms enacted with bipartisan support. We expect that this list will grow by the time states’ 2015 legislative sessions come to a close.
While several states have opted for a traditional gas tax increase, states are taking notice of what was done in Virginia and Maryland in The idea of lowering the “at the pump” gas tax while implementing a wholesale tax to generate even more revenue is something state policymakers may be considered by other states.
States also continue to look at the indexing of the gas tax with inflation. Seventeen states currently do this, however an effort to implement this policy in Massachusetts was recently defeated by voters.
States are also considering alternatives to the gas tax. One concept that seems to be gaining some traction is charging motorists by vehicle miles travelled. At least 46 VMT-related bills have been introduced in 18 states since Vermont and Washington enacted bills in 2012 to study per-mile charges. In 2013, Oregon enacted a 5,000-vehicle voluntary pilot program.

23. Looking Ahead at 2017 Anticipated infrastructure funding proposals:
Gas Tax Bills: Alabama, Louisiana, Missouri
Funding proposals: Indiana, Minnesota, and South Carolina
2017 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure
Changing make-up of legislatures and Governors (post election)

24. Sustainability
Civil engineers must take the lead in applying sustainability to planning, design and construction
ASCE provides the resources and programs civil engineers need to lead as sustainable and innovative problem solvers. 
Since 1996, the Society has formally recognized civil engineers’ obligation to practice sustainability by making it part of its Code of Ethics.
Commitment to sustainable practice
Public policy statements
Technical codes and standards
Global leadership and contributions to organizations such as the World Federation of Engineering Organizations.
With sustainability growing in importance to civil engineering, ASCE has made it one of three strategic priorities for the Society, helping professionals to incorporate sustainability principles into their daily practice. As the stewards of society's infrastructure, civil engineers must take the lead in applying sustainability to planning, design, and construction.
ASCE defines sustainability as: A set of environmental, economic and social conditions in which all of society has the capacity and opportunity to maintain and improve its quality of life indefinitely without degrading the quantity, quality or availability of natural, economic, and social resources.

25. Sustainability Resources
Policies relevant to sustainability
418 – The Role of the Civil Engineer in Sustainable Development
131- Growth and Development
Sustainability as a principle is referenced in many
Committee on Sustainability
Sustainable Engineering blog:
blogs.asce.org/category/sustainable-engineering
Innovation in Sustainable Civil Engineering Award
Since 2011, ASCE has honored a civil engineering project annually for its inspirational applications of sustainability
ASCE courses and conferences
Screenshot blog

26. Grand Challenge What is the Grand Challenge?
Reduce the life cycle cost of infrastructure by 50 percent by 2025 and foster the optimization of infrastructure investments for society.
How is ASCE addressing the Grand Challenge?
Creating a Comprehensive Focus on Improving Infrastructure Delivery
Performance Based Standards
Innovation
Life Cycle Cost Analysis
Enhanced Resilience
Leveraging our complementary efforts on policy and infrastructure funding to help close the infrastructure gap
The Grand Challenge is an opportunity for each of us, and the industry as a whole, to embrace our unique leadership role and rethink, advocate, and deliver what is possible.
While infrastructure funding and policy changes require the support of others, civil engineers control project delivery. We must rethink how we deliver our projects. Can we find lower cost or longer lasting materials? Can we dramatically shorten the time it takes to put new projects into service?
We must look for innovative financing mechanisms. We must transform our engineering and business practices to deliver better value to our clients in exchange for greater investment. As our GameChangers reports show, many of us are already doing so, and more of us must follow their lead.

27. Professional Practice / Licensing
Continuing education
8 states still with no continuing education requirement: AZ, CA, CO, CT, HI, MA, RI, VT, WA
Encouraging states to adhere to ASCE policy
Working to increase participation with state P.E. licensing boards
Several states considered bills this year to do away with all professional licenses in 2015:
Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Nevada, Washington
All bills defeated with opposition from ASCE and other professions
Arkansas bill actually passed House, but never taken up by Senate
In 2016 we saw activity in: Arizona, Georgia, and Kansas
Concept endorsed by influential group of conservative legislators (American Legislative Exchange Council - ALEC)
Likely to emerge in other states
Indiana: “Jobs Creation Commission” recommends elimination professional licensure including PE
Many groups expressing opposition, including ACEC, etc.
Governor says he does not support this provision

28. Other State Policy Issues
QBS
Sales tax on Services
Government Engineering Requirements (i.e. maintaining licensure requirements for key positions, seal requirements for government engineers, etc.)

29. Today’s Feature Presentations Dream Big! sneak preview
ASCE Movie Time!
Today’s Feature Presentations
Dream Big! sneak preview
Raise the Bar for Engineering
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver reports on Infrastructure
– current trailer

30. State and Local Report Cards

31. Why Infrastructure Report Cards?
Report Cards Reach an Audience Outside Engineers
Report Cards Are Highly Effective and Open Doors
Infrastructure is one of ASCE three key initiatives: Civil engineers are stewards of the nation’s infrastructure, credible experts, and most importantly, concerned citizens who can assess infrastructure.
Report Cards Reach an Audience Outside Engineers: “Report Cards” aren’t just another technical report; they are a critical statistics put into a grade school format that anyone can understand.
Report Cards Are Highly Effective and Open Doors: Report Cards have proven on the local and national level that they open doors and start conversations.

32. Post-Release Outreach with State and Regional Report Cards
RESEARCH
(9-12 months)
RELEASE
(3 months)
OUTREACH
Evaluation Criteria
Capacity
Condition
Operations & Maintenance
Funding
Future Need
Public Safety
Resilience
Innovation
GPA : ?

33. It’s time to tackle America’s infrastructure problems!
Save America’s Infrastructure App - Advocating from Your Phone Made Easy
It’s time to tackle America’s infrastructure problems!

34. Economic Study

35. 2017 Infrastructure Report Card

36. Media and Social Media

37. ASCE Mission
Provide essential value to our members and partners, advance civil engineering, and serve the PUBLIC GOOD

38. ASCE Brand
We are experts

39. Civil engineers are global leaders building a better quality of life.
ASCE Brand
We Are Public Servants
Civil engineers are global leaders building a better quality of life.

40. News Savvy

41. Contact ASCE National's Media Relations Staff
When a Reporter Calls
Reporter Calls
Find out deadline
Find out story angle
Find out when story will run
Find out if it will be taped or live
Contact ASCE National's Media Relations Staff
National works with you to find best spokesperson for story
Spokesperson does interview

42. Use the Right Tool

43. Use the Right Tool—Social Media
Not All Social Media is Created Equal
Facebook vs Twitter
Audience is Everyone

44. Be Social
Use social media to keep your Section informed, engage elected officials, and educate the public.
facebook.com/ASCEGovRel American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
ASCE GR Facebook page – focused on our members and the tools available to them…
Use your social network
Like, share, and retweet
Share news clips on issues affecting your industry
Tweet or post questions to Elected Officials
Thank elected officials

45. Federal Government Relations

46. Scenario 1- Dam Safety
Your state’s dam safety program is consistently underfunded. There are not enough inspectors on staff, and the Governor and legislature seem oblivious to the problem.
What can your Section do to bring attention to the issue and ultimately secure more funding for the program?

47. Scenario 2 – Licensure
A legislator in your state has introduced a bill to eliminate the state’s licensure requirement several other professions.
Among the professions named are Professional Engineers.
What actions should your Section take?

48. Scenario 3 – Ballot Measure
The legislature has decided to let the voters decide if the state should impose a “lockbox” to protect revenue designated for infrastructure projects, and they have placed the question on the November ballot.
If passed the measure would protect revenue generated to complete infrastructure maintenance, repairs, and improvements.
Should ASCE support this, and what steps can be taken to support it?

49. After today…. Quarterly conference call with this group.
First one will be in December 15 at 2:00 pm ET
Recruit key contact members
Set goal for each Advocacy Captain to recruit 5 new Key Contacts by March 1
Report to Section/Branch leadership on your participation as an Advocacy Captain by March 1
What are your next steps?