Government Relations
Infrastructure is a critical issue impacting St. Louis' economy, society, security and future. That’s why approximately every four years, we develop a report card depicting the condition and performance of state infrastructure in the familiar form of a school report card – assigning letter grades based on the physical condition and needed investments for improvement.
The report card is one of our key projects. It serves an important role in raising public awareness and providing elected officials the necessary tools to support infrastructure funding. As civil engineers in the Greater St. Louis metropolitan area, we have a responsibility to safeguard the life, health, and welfare of the public. We believe part of this responsibility includes providing the public and our elected leaders with critical information about the current state of our infrastructure.
Are you interested in public policy? Sign up to become a Key Contact to learn about and help amplify ASCE’s voice on public policy issues important to our profession. Your experience as a civil engineer resonates with elected officials and helps them understand the implications of legislation and regulation.
As a Key Contact you will receive:
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This Week in Washington (TWIW) – This email will keep you updated on current state and federal legislative action and other tools and resources available to you.
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Key Alerts – Key alerts will ask you to take action on specific issues in support of ASCE’s priorities. It only takes a few minutes to hit send on a pre-drafted email, personal email, or pick up the phone and call your legislator. They want to hear from you and we try to make communicating with them as easy as possible.
2027 Report Card for Missouri's Infrastructure
#asceSTL and the ASCE Kansas City Section are seeking volunteers to develop the 2027 Report Card for Missouri's Infrastructure! The ASCE Infrastructure Report Card assigns a "letter grade" to each sub-category of infrastructure in our state. The Report Card is an important tool for public outreach and government advocacy. This document is frequently referenced in press releases and utilized by our legislators in Jefferson City during public infrastructure budget discussions.
We're looking for volunteers for the 2027 Report Card!
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Section Writers - You will team up with another volunteer to write a 3-4 page write-up on the condition, funding sources, and reliability of a category of infrastructure. As this is a year-long commitment, #asceSTL offers seven (7) PDH's for section writers! Our last report card included 11 categories:
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Release Event Lead - This individual would coordinate and lead the release event at the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City during the 2027 Legislative Session.
If you want to learn more, contact Alison (see below) to future updates!
State Legislative Drive-In's
Engineers play an important role in society, and it's important that you make your voice heard in our community and by state legislators. If we do not, another industry or group – perhaps with interests at odds with our own – is likely to fill the vacuum we leave. State legislators are constantly voting on bills that affect our profession, such as licensure, infrastructure funding, environmental permitting, to name a few. As the saying goes, "If you're not at the table, you're on the table."
In Missouri, #asceSTL partners annually with ASCE Kansas City Section, ACEC, APWA, and MSPE to host Engineer's Day at the Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City during the legislative session (January-May). Our purpose is to educate legislators on the important and diverse roles that engineers play in our community and increase our presence in the public policy process. As experts in our field, it's up to us to educate legislators about the issues that affect our industry most, and to serve as a resource when policy issues that affect engineering come up for a vote.
In Illinois, #asceSTL partners annually with ASCE Central Illinois Section, ASCE Illinois Section, and others to host the Transportation for Illinois Coalition (TFIC) Legislative Lobby Day in Springfield in the spring. Delegates attend a full day of Leadership Briefings, Legislator meetings, and a legislative reception. #asceSTL includes six (6) Illinois counties and sends at least one (1) delegate annually.
ASCE Legislative Fly-In
Every spring, ASCE holds its Legislative Fly-In in Washington, D.C., an exclusive and intensive two-day event providing participants with professional development in honing their skills in the public policy process and advocacy, as well as valuable peer-to-peer networking with fellow ASCE influencers.
ASCE members will have an opportunity to meet with their Members of Congress or their senior legislative staff and advance the Society’s collective policy priorities while learning beneficial leadership skills they can bring back to the workplace.
The Fly-In program includes:
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Exclusive briefing sessions on key activity in Congress impacting the profession, new regulations and implementation plans, and ASCE's legislative priorities.
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Interactive training on advocacy, communicating your “ask”, and building relationships with your elected leaders — including pre-event webinars.
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Networking with your ASCE peers from across the country.
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Virtual meetings with your Members of Congress or their staff.
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Tips on continuing valuable relationships with your elected officials once you return home.
Leadership
Government Relations Chair & State Advocacy Captain
Civil Design, Inc.
