[House Report 111-440]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


111th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 2d Session                                                     111-440

======================================================================



 
SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEK, AND FOR 
                             OTHER PURPOSES

                                _______
                                

   March 12, 2010.--Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be 
                                printed

                                _______
                                

Mr. Oberstar, from the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 
                        submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                      [To accompany H. Res. 1125]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

    The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, to whom 
was referred the resolution (H. Res. 1125) supporting the goals 
and ideals of National Public Works Week, and for other 
purposes, having considered the same, report favorably thereon 
without amendment and recommend that the resolution be agreed 
to.

                       PURPOSE OF THE LEGISLATION

    H. Res. 1125 recognizes the contribution of public works 
professionals to communities across the country by facilitating 
a resolution to recognize this year's National Public Works 
Week, which will be observed from May 16, 2010, through May 22, 
2010.

                  BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

    ``Public works'' is loosely defined as projects or programs 
carried out by the federal or state government for the benefit 
of the community. These projects and programs include: 
transportation systems, such as rail, highways, and public 
transit; levees; water supply infrastructure; sewage and refuse 
disposal systems; public buildings; and other structures and 
facilities.
    Public works infrastructure, facilities, and services 
provide safety, health, and economic assurances for both large 
and small communities. These services could not be provided in 
the efficient and effective method in which they are without 
the skill of public works professionals, such as engineers, 
administrators, and servicemen.
    National Public Works Week is observed each year during the 
month of May. Spearheaded by the American Public Works 
Association, the following groups are also cosponsoring efforts 
to increase awareness of the dedication of public works 
professionals during this week: American Council of Engineering 
Companies, American Society of Civil Engineers, American Shore 
& Beach Preservation Association, The Associated General 
Contractors of America, National Association of Clean Water 
Agencies, National Association of Water Companies, American 
Road and Transportation Builders Association, and Water 
Environment Federation.

                       SUMMARY OF THE LEGISLATION

    H. Res. 1125, supporting the goals and ideals of National 
Public Works Week, and for other purposes, recognizes the 
significant diverse contributions that public works 
professionals make every day to improve public infrastructure 
in the United States and the communities that they serve. This 
resolution highlights the importance to our nation, our 
economy, and our citizens of public works infrastructure, 
facilities, and services, including: transportation systems, 
including aviation, highways, bridges, public transit, and 
rail; gas and hazardous liquid pipelines; water supply 
infrastructure, including levees, reservoirs, and other flood 
damage reduction measures; sewage and refuse disposal systems; 
and public buildings.
    H. Res. 1125 states that the House of Representatives--
          (1) supports the goals and ideals of National Public 
        Works Week;
          (2) recognizes and celebrates the 50th anniversary of 
        National Public Works Week; and
          (3) urges citizens and communities throughout the 
        United States to pay tribute to these efforts from May 
        16 through May 22, 2010 together with the Federal 
        Government.
    This resolution also notes the successful implementation of 
the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (P.L. 111-5) 
(Recovery Act), and observes that work has begun on 10,348 
projects totaling $22.8 billion, or 60 percent of the total 
funds made available under the Act forhighway, transit, and 
wastewater infrastructure formula programs. As of December 31, 2009, 
these projects have created or sustained more than 300,000 direct, on-
project jobs.\1\ Total employment from these projects, including 
direct, indirect, and induced jobs, totals more than 938,000 jobs.\2\ 
Job creation data, along with other transparency and accountability 
information related to the Recovery Act, are released regularly by the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and reflect information 
directly submitted to the Committee, on a monthly basis, by States, 
Metropolitan Planning Organizations, and public transit agencies. The 
Committee intends to update the data included in this resolution prior 
to Floor consideration, if new information is available at that time.
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    \1\Direct jobs are charged directly to the project, and include 
workers employed to build a facility or upgrade equipment on-site. 
Consistent with the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) reports 
pursuant to section 1201 of the Recovery Act, the number of direct jobs 
is based on direct, on-project full-time-equivalent (FTE) job months. 
One person working full time or two people working one-half time for 
one month represents one FTE job month. FTE job months are calculated 
by dividing cumulative job hours created or sustained by 173 hours (40 
hours per week times 52 weeks divided by 12 months = 173 hours). In 
addition, DOT is subject to additional reporting requirements pursuant 
to section 1512 of the Recovery Act and Office of Management and Budget 
guidance. In section 1512 reports, recipients report quarterly 
employment by dividing the hours worked in the reporting quarter by the 
hours in a full-time schedule in that quarter.
    \2\Indirect jobs are not charged directly to the project, but are 
embedded in materials costs and include positions at companies that 
produce construction materials such as steel, sand, gravel, and 
asphalt, or manufacture equipment such as new transit buses. Induced 
jobs are positions that are created or sustained when employees spend 
their increased incomes on goods and services. To calculate total 
employment, which includes direct, indirect, and induced jobs, the 
Committee assumed that an expenditure of $7,667 creates one FTE job 
month ($92,000 creates one FTE job year). The multiplier is based upon 
the Council of Economic Advisers' guidance.
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            LEGISLATIVE HISTORY AND COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

    On April 1, 2009, Chairman James L. Oberstar introduced H. 
Res. 313, supporting the goals and ideals of National Public 
Works Week for 2009. On April 2, 2009, the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure met in an open session and 
ordered H. Res. 313 reported favorably to the House by voice 
vote with a quorum present. On April 21, 2009, the Committee 
reported the resolution to the House. H. Rept. 110-80. On May 
5, 2009, the House agreed to H. Res. 313 by voice vote under 
suspension of the Rules of the House of Representatives.
    On March 2, 2010, Representative Thomas S. P. Perriello 
introduced H. Res. 1125, supporting the goals and ideals of 
National Public Works Week. On March 3, 2010, the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure met in open session and 
ordered H. Res. 1125 reported favorably to the House by voice 
vote with a quorum present.

                              RECORD VOTES

    Clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the House of Representatives 
requires each committee report to include the total number of 
votes cast for and against on each record vote on a motion to 
report and on any amendment offered to the measure or matter, 
and the names of those members voting for and against. There 
were no recorded votes taken in connection with ordering H. 
Res. 1125 reported. A motion to order H. Res. 1125 reported 
favorably to the House was agreed to by voice vote with a 
quorum present.

                      COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS

    With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(1) of rule 
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the 
Committee's oversight findings and recommendations are 
reflected in this report.

                          COST OF LEGISLATION

    With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(2) of rule 
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, H. Res. 1125 
is a resolution of the House of Representatives, and therefore 
does not have the force of law. As such, there is no cost 
associated with this legislation for fiscal year 2010, or for 
any fiscal year thereafter.

                    COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII

    1. With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(2) of 
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, and 
308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee 
advises that the resolution contains no measure that authorizes 
funding, so no comparison of the total estimated funding level 
for the relevant programs to the appropriate levels under 
current law is required.
    2. With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(4) of 
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the 
Committee advises that the resolution contains no measure that 
authorizes funding, so no statement of general performance and 
objectives for any measure that authorizes funding is required.
    3. With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(3) of 
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and 
section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the 
Committee advises that the resolution contains no measure that 
authorizes funding, so no cost estimate nor comparison for any 
measure that authorizes funding is required.

                     COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XXI

    Pursuant to clause 9 of rule XXI of the Rules of the House 
of Representatives, the Committee is required to include a list 
of congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited 
tariff benefits, as defined in clause 9(e), 9(f), and 9(g) of 
rule XXI of the Rules of the House of Representatives. H. Res. 
1125 does not contain any earmarks, limited tax benefits, or 
limited tariff benefits under clause 9(e), 9(f), or 9(g) of 
rule XXI.

                   CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT

    Pursuant to clause (3)(d)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives, H. Res. 1125 is a resolution of 
the House of Representatives and therefore does not have the 
force of law. As such, clause 3(d)(1) of rule XIII does not 
apply.

                       FEDERAL MANDATES STATEMENT

    H. Res. 1125 contains no Federal mandates.

                        PREEMPTION CLARIFICATION

    Section 423 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 
requires the report of any Committee on a bill or joint 
resolution to include a statement on the extent to which the 
bill or joint resolution is intended to preempt state, local, 
or tribal law. The Committee states that H. Res. 1125 does not 
preempt any state, local, or tribal law.

                      ADVISORY COMMITTEE STATEMENT

    No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b) 
of the Federal Advisory Committee Act are created by this 
legislation.

                APPLICABILITY TO THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

    The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to 
the terms and conditions of employment or access to public 
services or accommodations within the meaning of section 
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act (P.L. 104-1).

         CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW MADE BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED

    H. Res. 1125 makes no changes in existing law.

                                  
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