Infrastructure |

Is Your Government Relations Team #SmartWorking?

April 14, 2020Tim CanslerAgriculture, BioTech, Budget & Appropriations, Cansler News, COVID-19, Defense, Drinking Water, Energy, Farm Bill, Food Safety, Govt News, Health Care, Industry News, Infrastructure, Leaner Govt Relations, Press, Rural Dev., Trade, Transportationgovernment relations, K-Street, Lobbying, SmartWorking

There’s been a huge swell in lobbying activities in Washington during the COVID-19 pandemic as Congress swiftly enacts policies to help those impacted. Events like the COVID-19 pandemic typically alter the course for many sectors toward technologies and different methods they should have been using all along. So, it begs the question why are some government relations firms charging their clients $40,000, $50,000 and $80,000 per quarter? It’s outrageous. #Smartworking government relations firms will never cost that much.

President Trump Challenges to Use Better Infrastructure Techniques

April 6, 2020Tim CanslerBudget & Appropriations, COVID-19, Drinking Water, Energy, Govt News, Infrastructure, Transportationairports, coronavirus, COVID-19, Drinking Water, infrastructure, rail, U.S. Sea Ports, Water Utilities

During the COVID-19 press conference on April 5, President Trump addressed a question on the need and timing of infrastructure improvements for the U.S. President Trump supports a massive investment in much-needed improvements to U.S. roads, rail, bridges, levees, drinking water, seaports, airports, etc. that will also help spur the economy post-COVID-19 pandemic. President Trump…

@EPA and @USCG Continue Work in Tandem on Regulatory Framework for Discharges from Commercial Vessels

February 4, 2020Tim CanslerAgriculture, Cansler News, Govt News, Infrastructure, Trade, TransportationBarge, EPA, shipments, shipping, U.S. Sea Ports, USCG

Shipping companies and seaports should be aware of the potential impacts of the VIDA national standards of performance currently being crafted. Do you know about ongoing and future developments of the VIDA regulations? If not, contact us at [email protected], or (202)714-2822.

Show That You Mean It!

January 2, 2020Tim CanslerDrinking Water, Govt News, InfrastructureEPA, Public Works, State Drinking Water Administrators, Water Utilities

It is incumbent upon engineering officials at Water Systems across the U.S. to fully explain why new, innovative, certified, cost-effective technologies for improving drinking water conveyances were not used and why the additional costs for 1990’s dig-n-replace methodologies are warranted. Water Ratepayers deserve to know why!

Drinking Water Infrastructure Hamstrung With Antiquated Procurement Practices and Regulations That Inhibit Use of Materials & Increase Water Ratepayers Costs

September 13, 2019Tim CanslerBudget & Appropriations, Drinking Water, Govt News, Infrastructure

Final in our series: Congress Encourages Improved Procurement Practices & Green Infrastructure Improved Procurement Practices In Part 4 of our series we talked about the billions of federal dollar$ Congress is directing to remedy the U.S.’ deteriorating drinking water infrastructure. Along with the needed financial assistance Congress is: incorporating stipulations in law to ensure federal…

Drinking Water Infrastructure Hamstrung With Antiquated Procurement Practices and Regulations That Inhibit Use of Materials & Increase Water Ratepayers Costs

August 13, 2019Tim CanslerBudget & Appropriations, Drinking Water, Govt News, InfrastructureDrinking Water, Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, infrastructure, trenchless technology, Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act, Water Utilities

Part 3 of 5 Antiquated Regulations Challenges to improved infrastructure and procurement practices are exacerbated by antiquated regulations that remain in place. These antiquated regulations do not acknowledge new, innovative drinking water conveyance technologies. Outdated regulations create regulatory ambiguity and complying with these old regulations contributes to project delays and increased costs to water ratepayers.…

Drinking Water Infrastructure Hamstrung With Antiquated Procurement Practices and Regulations That Inhibit Use of Materials & Increase Water Ratepayers Costs

July 31, 2019Tim CanslerDrinking Water, Govt News, InfrastructureDrinking Water, Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, infrastructure, Mayors, procurement, Public Works, regulations, trenchless technology, Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act, Water Utilities, WIFIA

Part 2 of 5 Antiquated Procurement Practices We have learned that there is growing bipartisan support in Congress to require state and local governments to maintain open and fair competition for materials used by public water systems when using federal financing programs. According to some members working closely on the proposed infrastructure package Congress hopes…

White House and Congressional Leaders Reach Deal on FY 2020 & 2021 Budget

July 22, 2019Tim CanslerAgriculture, Budget & Appropriations, Defense, Drinking Water, Farm Bill, Food Safety, Govt News, InfrastructureAgriculture, Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, Appropriations Committee, Drinking Water, Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, House Appropriations, SNAP, Specialty Crops, The Food and Drug Administration, US Department of Agriculture

On August 2, President Trump signed into law a two-year federal budget deal totaling $2.7 trillion. Background The White House and congressional leaders announced on July 22 that a comprehensive deal had been worked out on the top line spending numbers for the U.S. discretionary budget for fiscal years 2020 and 2021. Pressure had been…

Drinking Water Infrastructure Hamstrung With Antiquated Procurement Practices and Regulations That Inhibit Use of Materials & Increase Water Ratepayers Costs

July 10, 2019Tim CanslerBudget & Appropriations, Cansler News, Drinking Water, Govt News, InfrastructureDrinking Water, Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, Mayors, procurement, Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act

(Part 1 of 5) Introduction According to the American Society of Civil Engineers (@ASCETweets) 2017 Infrastructure Report Card, “Most Americans – just under 300 million people – receive their drinking water from one of the nation’s 51,356 community water systems. Of these, just 8,674 systems, or approximately 17%, serve close to 92% of the total…

As Senate Republicans Huddle, House Democrats Move Forward on FY 2020 Discretionary Spending Bills

June 11, 2019Tim CanslerAgriculture, BioTech, Budget & Appropriations, Cansler News, Defense, Energy, Food Safety, Govt News, Health Care, Industry News, Infrastructure, Leaner Govt Relations, Press, Rural Dev., TransportationAgriculture, Appropriations Committee, budget House of Representatives, Democrats, Drinking Water, Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, Energy & Commerce, Environmental Protection Agency, federal budget, federal programs, House Appropriations, infrastructure, international trade, National Institute of Standards and Technology, NIST, Republicans, The Food and Drug Administration, trade, Transportation, U.S. Senate Budget Committee, Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act

House Maintains Modest Increases in all 12 Appropriations Bills Above FY 2019 Levels On June 11 officials from the White House & Office of Management and Budget will meet with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) & Senate Appropriations Chairman Richard Shelby (R-AL) to chart a path forward on the FY 2020 appropriations bills that…

What Can Possibly Be Accomplished During 2018 Lame Duck Session of Congress?

October 28, 2018Tim CanslerAgriculture, BioTech, Budget & Appropriations, Cansler News, Defense, Energy, Farm Bill, Food Safety, Govt News, Health Care, Industry News, Infrastructure, Press, Rural Dev., Transportation, Uncategorized

Congress left many issues undone for the 16-days scheduled in the legislative calendar after the 2018 midterm elections, known as the lame duck session of Congress. Below are some of those remaining issues. FY 2019 Appropriations Bill Congress enacted 5 (of the total 12) annual FY 2019 appropriations bills prior to the beginning of the…

Federal Budget Changes Coming. Is Your Organization Ready?

August 26, 2018Tim CanslerAgriculture, BioTech, Budget & Appropriations, Cansler News, Defense, Energy, Farm Bill, Food Safety, Govt News, Health Care, Infrastructure, Leaner Govt Relations, Press, Rural Dev., Transportation

No matter the outcome of the upcoming mid-term elections there is an important policy issue that will take center stage early in the coming 116th Congress. Its an issue that everyone knows Congress must begin to address and its an issue that could impact everyone’s favorite federal program — the federal debt and growing federal…

How EPA WIFIA Program Saved Drinking Water Ratepayers $18 Million

July 12, 2018Tim CanslerInfrastructure

Today Vicente Sarmiento, Board of Director, Orange County Water District (OCWD), Orange County, California testified before the US Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. We found his testimony exemplary in showcasing the financial benefits of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (@EPA) Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (#WIFIA) Program by saving Orange County drinking water…

Protected: Local Jurisdictions & Water Utilities Can Enhance WIFIA Application Scores

April 26, 2018Tim CanslerGovt News, Infrastructure

There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.