Government Relations Committee

With much at stake for our industry in the form of taxation and regulatory controls, the ICPI Government Relations Committee has adopted a new, game-changing approach to advocacy.

This new approach involves a multi-level strategy with Randy Pence, our current legislative liaison focused on federal legislation. An additional liaison, Pete Loughlin, focuses on issues and opportunities arising at the regional, state, and local (municipal) level.

The Committee expects that this change will better equip ICPI to advocate when and where most needed, promote positive changes, and defend the industry from potentially damaging legislation on a broader and timelier basis.

At the 2021 Annual Meeting session:

During the spring and early summer of 2020, the House Appropriations Committee adopted report language recommended by ICPI for inclusion in the FY21 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations Bill. The language encourages the US Federal Highway Administration to conduct comprehensive work on permeable pavements for flood mitigation and other public policy priorities.

The Committee also reviewed the progress made on:

• Capitol Hill efforts continue as members of the H2B Coalition expand the H2B visa program to allow for more seasonal workers; support of the definition of the Waters of the US and use of PICP; support of the new infrastructure bill and use of PICP, and opposition to the PRO Act.

• Canadian virtual online PICP Symposium last

August with Fredericton, London, and Calgary featured four speakers with 71 municipal government staff and professional design attendees from across Canada.

• Future advocacy will concentrate on three areas:

o Influence national legislation

o Protect the industry from onerous regulations and influence federal agencies o Promotion/Education/Outreach to US

Army Corps ofEngineers, DOTs,

Municipalities in the US, and Canada

• A task group was established to develop criteria to prioritize states and municipalities to influence.

• The Virtual PaverPAC fundraiser was held on

February 18th, with members donating $2,185 to the PaverPAC fund.