While Congress failed to reach agreement on a new stimulus package in response to the COVID-19 crisis prior to the August recess, talks continue that keep open the possibility of a vote in September.
Senate Republicans floated a proposal in August that would extend pandemic unemployment benefits, provide additional stimulus payments to families and individual taxpayers, grant funds to schools, extend the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), and offer a liability safe harbor for employers that follow governmental guidance on coronavirus protection.
House Democrats passed more extensive legislation at the end of May that would not only extend unemployment benefits and PPP loans, but would also provide significant funding for state and local governments, among other provisions. The House also met in August and approved emergency funding for the U.S. Postal Service to address concerns about the timeliness of mail-in ballots.
With few legislative days in September, Congress is expected to approve a continuing resolution to fund federal agencies and an extension of the FAST Act, which could present an opportunity to include additional COVID response measures.
ACEC has urged Hill leaders to delay the implementation of a regulation banning several telecommunications items that is scheduled to take effect on Aug. 13.
Section 889(a)(1)(B) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 bans numerous Chinese-made telecommunications products and services and would prevent engineers from working on federal contracts if their firms cannot comply with the ban.
ACEC understands the national and economic security goals underlying Section 889, including the need to take action to limit the presence of covered suppliers in the digital infrastructure of companies supporting federal agencies.
The industry is concerned, however, that the inability of engineering firms and other federal contractors to achieve compliance by the implementation date will have a detrimental impact on the ability of federal agency clients to procure critical products and services.
In a letter to Hill leaders, ACEC urged that the deadline for compliance be extended, giving the federal contractor industry time to work with agency clients to achieve the goals envisioned in the law while also ensuring that critical services on behalf of the taxpayer may continue.
The House passed the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) at the end of July, including funding for flood control, storm damage, and other water-related infrastructure projects. It could set the stage for negotiations with the Senate and final passage when Congress returns in September.
H.R. 7575 would authorize approximately $17 billion for 34 navigation, flood control, and storm damage projects, including $3.03 billion for flood risk management and ecosystem restoration in New York, $1.4 billion for hurricane and storm damage risk reduction near Norfolk, Va., and many other projects throughout the country.
House leaders are expected to include financial assistance to wastewater systems through the reauthorization and expansion of the Clean Water Act State Revolving Fund (SRF) program. The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee passed legislation last fall—H.R. 1497—that authorized nearly $14 billion for the wastewater SRF program, and committee leaders may use this legislation as the House position in negotiations with the Senate.
The Senate has a companion bill under consideration—S. 3591, the America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2020—which includes numerous Corps of Engineers project authorizations and $7.5 billion for wastewater.
Leaders in both the House and Senate hope to vote on a final water package when Congress returns in September.
For legislative news, visit ACEC’s Last Word blog online at www.acec.org.