Why is it that: our neighbors don't know what a civil engineer is? Only a handful of our Congressmen are engineers. Only 30% of our Secretaries of Transportation are engineers. We have major U.S cities with City Engineers who are not engineers, yet they hold the title.

The answers lie partially in the lack of involvement of civil engineers in the public policy and political process. Over the years, engineers have simply not recognized the direct link of the public policy process to our ethical and moral role and responsibility "to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public." There is a misconception that civil engineers and members of a professional organization cannot hold office or assist in political campaigns. Engineers have simply taken a back seat to politics and have chosen not to get caught up in the perceived "corrupt" and "political" process-and thus have viewed public policy as a foe. However, as Pericles observed in 430 B.C., "Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn't mean politics won't take an interest in you."

One of the key ingredients of civil engineering leadership is the understanding of public policy. How many of us realize that our professional engineering society policies assist our congressmen and regulators in determining what happens to our infrastructure worldwide? How many of us recognize that it is these policies upon which many of our codes and standards are developed and promoted for civil engineering projects all around the world?

For example, ASCE as the premier professional society representing civil engineers in the U.S. and around the world, ASCE can and should be involved in lobbying and educating our elected officials on issues affecting our profession. These individuals depend on technical input to make decisions regarding how the nation's public works are designed, built and maintained. However, as a 501(c) 3 organization, ASCE's ability to effectively communicate with elected officials is significantly curtailed. Establishing a 501(c) 6 would allow ASCE to more fully represent our profession and also demonstrate to our members the importance of fully engaging in the political process to affect change for the positive.

It is critical that engineers become more involved in the political process if we are to truly induce change. The legal and medical communities understood this concept long ago and the result has been increased funding in these areas when bills are introduced. The public in general has a much better understanding of the legal and medical process. This in turn creates an even larger challenge for us as an engineering profession as we have such a long way to go in merely "educating" the public about what engineers do, let alone approving policy and providing funding for our crumbling infrastructure

If we are to change the way our lawmakers rule on engineering issues and public infrastructure, we need to recognize that public policy must be viewed as a friend. Engineers need to increase their visibility in the political process by running for office, participate in political campaigns and make contributions to those individuals that you believe are in the best interest of our nation and engineering issues. We must dispel the perception that engineers cannot participate in public policy or politics just because they are engineers. We need to stand up and make a difference if we truly want change in building a quality of life for our families and future generations.

April 11, 2007

The answer is simple, no. Engineers will then lose credibility like attorney's, who make up a large majority of politicians. Engineers need to stay outside the arena where they can criticize and lobby.

John A. Masi

April 9, 2007

The statement is made that some cities have non-engineers serving as "city engineer". How can this be. Using that title without being registered in that state is a violation of the Professional Engineers' act for that state. I know a lot of public works directors are not civil engineers, but that is not a violation. Sad to say this is occuring. This is where ASCE can make a difference.

Prof. J.C.Reichenberger PE

April 9, 2007

I question that civil engineers as a whole do not recognize the link between public policy and their ethical responsibility to protect the safety, health and welfare of the public. Further, I question that civil engineers are under the misconception that as a member of the profession and a member of the ASCE they are banned from some political activities. Galloway suggests that ASCE’s 501(c)3 organizational status either prohibits or inhibits the effective participation of the ASCE in the political arena and advocates establishing the 501(c)6 organizational status of the ASCE to facilitate its participation in the political processes. Does this really have anything to do with actually facilitating individual civil engineers to being more effective in politics or in the ASCE organization gaining the ability to legally form a PAC to buy political influence without losing its 501(c)3 tax exempt status and thereby pursue its own organizational political goals. As a member of the ASCE, I believe that the ASCE has acted and will continue act in the best interest of its most politically influential members and to the detriment of its other members. On this basis I would not trust the ASCE organization with expanded political influence as an organization. On this basis, I have two burning questions: Does the American Medical Association or the American Bar Association have the 501(c)6 organizational status as a key measure to facilitate their political influence through organizational PACs? If they do, do they have a history of exercising their organizational political influence to the detriment of substantial segments of their practicing communities?

Prof. J.C.Reichenberger PE

April 6. 2007

I agree that ASCE should lead the way for the profession and continue to engage the public and policymakers in important issues. My only misgiving is the politics of money. While creation of a parallel 501c6 organization would give ASCE greater ability to lobby on the Hill and reach out to citizens and members, it also would provide the vehicle to creating a PAC. As a member, I will support the 501c6 proposal and the increased efforts to get professionals a place at the table, but only if it comes with a strong assurance that ASCE will not follow up with a PAC. You can sugarcoat it any way you please, but everybody knows that the only reason PACs exist is to funnel money to politicians in return for access and favors. That's an enterprise that a professional, ethics-based organization such as ASCE must avoid.

Timothy M. Ruppert, P.E., M.ASCE

April 6. 2007

I could not agree more; for all the reasons stated in the article and some. The key personality characteristics and innate abilities that lead one to become an engineer, such as the ability to solve problems, understanding cost/benefit theory, appreciation for quality assurance/quality control and the ability to understand fiscal matters are sorely needed by the leadership community. These traits are not only a positive for engineering issues but would be a huge asset while trying to improve our health care system, solve education challenges, fight poverty and provide for a secure nation. It seems a pity that one of our nation's greatest assets, our engineers, who are world leaders in innovation, sit on the bench in the political game.

Shelley Gisclar, P.E.

April 5, 2007

Far more important than running for office is the need to speak out forceably when public policy is being based on absurd misstatements of reality. Tell the public that wind power is nice, but you still need available generation capacity when the wind fails, and someone will have to pay for that.

Walter E. Wallis, P.E.

April 5, 2007

By way of introduction my name is Stephan Butler and I am a civil engineer who has worked for the past 15 years in commercial general construction and like many of you I am a civil engineer. Although I had achieved professional success in both my career and through my service work with the ASCE I found myself questioning whether there was something more that I could be doing after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

I decided that, in order to contribute to the solution in a meaningful way, I needed to reach those who have influence over the process. Since there could be no better way to ensure that my voice, opinion and views -- and those of the profession at large -- were heard by lawmakers and decision makers, I accepted the invitation of the AAAS/ASCE to be its 2006-2007 Congressional Fellow. Pursuant to my appointment, I began working in January as a legislative fellow for Senator Mary L. Landrieu (LA), focused on public policy matters related to the rebuilding issues in Louisiana created by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

So far I have not been disappointed in my work on Capitol Hill, as working as a staff member of the legislative branch has allowed me to see first hand the relationship between proximity and access and the need for experts to participate in the political process in order to get the best policy results. It now resonates with me that in this context engineers must get involved to effect change and they need to position themselves better by seeking public office, which would provide them with proximity and access to the legislative process.

The engineering discipline should actively recruit and pitch its professionals for placement on lawmaker and committee staffs. However, this tactic is likely to require a cultural shift in the engineering profession. Talented engineers will not readily pursue alternative but important career paths if they think that their work will be dismissed or devalued by the profession, including its societies and licensing boards. Likewise, lawmakers and committees are unlikely to understand the benefits of having engineers on their staffs and deferring to their judgment on important social issues without a significant public relations campaign. The stakes are high enough, however, that extreme measures are necessary.

Every engineer who reads this and those who employ them should consider competing for an appointment to an ASCE Congressional Fellowship as it is one of the best ways in which to share your expertise and experiences with our country's top decision-makers. Also, it will allow you to learn new approaches with regard to communication, management styles, problem-solving and how best to advocate for vital public works projects.

Stephan Butler