CECorps Advocates for Equitable Infrastructure On Capitol Hill

Community Engineering Corps (CECorps) staff recently had the invaluable opportunity to engage with legislators during the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Legislative Fly-In in Washington, DC, a two-day event providing participants with an opportunity to hone their skills in the public policy process and advocacy, as well as valuable peer-to-peer networking time. For over twenty years, ASCE has spearheaded building consensus on infrastructure policy and funding issues. This year marks the first time Engineers Without Borders USA has been invited to participate in the event.

The Fly-in event provided a platform to advocate for key infrastructure issues crucial to communities nationwide. Workforce development was also a topic of discussion. ASCE shared that to fulfill the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, an additional 83,000 civil engineers are needed, along with 17 million engineer-adjacent roles.

By sharing insightful perspectives and firsthand experiences, staff members Natalie Celmo and Clare Haas Claveau were able to highlight the challenges faced by underserved and overburdened communities and the urgent need for sustainable solutions. These discussions aimed to not only raise awareness but also to influence policy decisions that will positively impact equitable infrastructure investment.

EWB-USA is new to the advocacy space and looks forward to learning more about how we can be effective. As infrastructure is equivalent to health, safety, and the welfare of the public, CECorps brings the perspective of working with underserved communities. By participating in discussions, providing input, and sharing real-world examples, CECorps can help policymakers understand the importance of equitably investing in infrastructure that serves all communities. Our presence can help strengthen advocacy efforts and reinforce the commitment to creating sustainable and resilient infrastructure for everyone.

As background, ASCE and the Infrastructure Report Card (https://infrastructurereportcard.org/) were instrumental in passing the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in 2021, which is benefiting communities nationwide. Under this law, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) marked the country’s largest investment ($1.2 million over 5 years) in US infrastructure. For the first time in our nation’s history, the Federal government has made it a goal that 40 percent of certain Federal infrastructure investments flow to communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. This is where EWB-USA and its CECorps program come in. For over 10 years, the CECorps program has been providing critical engineering services to underserved communities so that they can access the available funding needed to make infrastructure improvements.

“ I found the whole event to be informative and worthwhile. ASCE provided relevant information on the engineering issues to address in our legislative meetings. I met and worked with constituents from Colorado, and together we crafted our messaging and attended meetings on the Hill. The legislative staff was well versed on infrastructure needs resulting in great discussions on continued support for infrastructure needs. My hope is that we build on this experience and continue to advocate for engineer support in underserved areas so that these communities access the available funding and increase their ability to move their infrastructure, health, and safety forward.” Clare Haas Claveau

The Community Engineering Corps program is a collaborative effort of EWB-USA, ASCE, and American Water Works Association. For over 10 years, volunteers from these organizations have provided critical engineering services in underserved and overburdened communities across the US. Interested in learning more about the program and how to get involved? Check out our website at www.communtyengineeringcorps.org or email us at cecinfo@ewb-usa.org.