Last month, ACEC alerted members to an anti-outsourcing amendment that was working its way through both the House and Senate. Action in the Senate will occur in early September, and it is imperative that our members once again contact their Senators to let them know that they are opposed to any legislative language that does not allow the private sector to compete for Federal contracts.

The amendment, introduced by Senator Byron Dorgan (D-SD) to the F.Y. 2003 Treasury-Postal Appropriations Bill, seeks to prevent the Bush administration from implementing its competitive sourcing program, which has a goal of opening 15 percent of government positions to private sector competition next year.

The Dorgan amendment was adopted in subcommittee on a party line vote of 4-3. An effort will be made to remove this harmful language when the Treasury-Postal Appropriations bill moves to the Senate floor in September.

ACEC continues to educate Senators on what this amendment means to the engineering industry. ACEC is also coordinating with OMB Director Mitch Daniels and the Bush Administration, to ensure that the final version of this legislation is free of language that hampers the ability of federal agencies to contract out with the private sector.

What You Can Do Now

ACEC members should weigh in with their elected officials TODAY to oppose the Dorgan amendment. The vote in the Senate will be extremely close, so your voice will make a difference.

Use this link to send a message today.
http://capwiz.com/acec/issues/alert/?alertid=324156&type=CO.

Renee A. Casillas,
Executive Director
American Council of Engineering Companies of Alabama (ACECA)
Phone: (334) 264-1500

"The Business Association of the Engineering Industry"

PLEASE TAKE TIME TO VISIT US ON THE WEB AT:http://www.aceca.org.

Ronald D. Hackett, PE
JECA Representative
IEEE, Huntsville Section
r.hackett@ieee.org