Engineering Inc. - November/December 2006 - 5

n We're all committed to completing a comprehensive WRDA bill when we
return after the November elections. REP. DON YOUNG R-ALASKA ate bill
creating a peer review office independent of the Corps tractors by October
of that would review the technical and scientific aspects of a 2007,
including the project, as well as a broad range of other issues.
requirement of mini- ACEC and industry allies are concerned that the
oversight mum security back- process outlined in the Senate bill would add
unnecessary ground screenings. delays to critical projects. ACEC has raised
Instead, the Council favors the oversight language included concerns over
the in the House bill, which takes a more balanced approach and current
backlog in ensures that independent peer reviews are carried out in a the
security clearance manner that does not delay good projects from going
forward. process, especially House and Senate where firms have conferees
also remain waited two or more divided over the num- years to have their
ber and scope of con- clearances processed. gressionally earmarked There
are an estimated projects. 30,000 applications We made a great backlogged
this year. deal of progress, and With HSPD-12, this there was a lot of
good backlog is expected to faith compromise and increase significantly.
negotiation involved, ACEC has met with Bill Wolfe of edwards and Kelcey
and chairman said Rep. Don Young the Office of Person- of acec's homeland
Security Subcommittee warns against hSpd-12. R-Alaska , the chair- nel
Management, as man of the House well as the Depart- Transportation and
ment of Defense and Infrastructure Com- the General Accounting Office on
the industry's concern. mittee. We just ran The Council also has briefed
the House Government Reform out of time. But we're Committee and the
Senate Homeland Security and Govern- all committed to com- mental Affairs
Committee. pleting a comprehen- If engineering firm employees cannot have
background sive WRDA bill when checks processed in a timely manner, our
ability to compete Rep. don Young R-alaska is committed to a we return
after the for and carry out work for federal agencies is severely compro-
comprehensive WRda bill. November elections. mised, said Bill Wolfe of
Edwards and Kelcey and chairman In the meantime, of ACEC's Homeland
Security Subcommittee. we've instructed our staffs to continue to meet
throughout the recess to address many of the unresolved issues. acec seeks
to resolve emerging security clearance problem ACEC is seeking to head off
a looming problem involving a new federal policy requiring security
clearances for all govern- ment work. For weekly legislative news, Under a
Homeland Security Presidential Directive HSPD- visit acec's Last word
online 12 , all federal agencies will be required to have a new govern- at
www.acec.org. ment-wide security-check protocol in place for all federal
con- oVeMbeR / DeceMbeR 2006 enGIneeRInG Inc.
http://www.acec.org
Engineering Inc. - November/December 2006

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