Advocating in DC

For the 2022 AWC budget, we had added a new item – the Minnesota Transportation Alliance’s DC Fly-In. The Alliance has been a member of the AWC since 2008, and we work together on transportation contracting initiatives. We weren’t sure if the trip was going to help us, but that was the year of supply chain disruption and price escalations that were hurting our members. While we couldn’t get any help for our pleas, the experience was so positive for other opportunities, that the board committed to this being a budget item every year. Here is your update for our third year attending this Fly-In.

I had lunch this summer with Member Deb Brisk of DRB Consulting who also attends the fly-in. I mentioned that I think it would be great to meet with the Secretary of Transportation and discuss the new rules for DBEs (Disadvantaged Business Enterprise) and what the program means to small businesses. Deb knew someone who reached out to get us an introduction to DOT (Department of Transportation) folks. That led to some pre discussions and prep and ultimately a calendar appointment for me, Deb and Kendra Kron, our Past Board President, to meet with several DBE leaders at the DOT while in DC.

We had an hour sit down with the US Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Associate Administrator of Civil Rights, FHWA DBE Contract Compliance Analyst, DOT Associate Director of the DBE Program, DOT EO Compliance Specialist and the DOT DBE Economist. One of the best meetings of my career if I am being honest. Our planned agenda was to first and foremost thank the leadership for the update of the DBE Rules that went into effect on May 9, 2024. We brought forward the unintended consequences (view a PDF copy of the handout we shared) of the new rule under 49 CFR 26.70 Debt Financed Investments that have created a barrier for DBEs to get certified. We talked about other challenges that DBEs are facing in the marketplace, as well as those specific to the Minnesota market. We left the meeting feeling HEARD and understood. While we did not walk out of the meeting with solutions to challenges, we now have a place for dialogue with policy makers and DBE Leadership.

The rest of the trip was spent with the Alliance attendees. A welcome reception where we heard about the FY25 THUD appropriations and the impacts of the IIJA funding rollout was Tuesday evening. Wednesday kicked off with breakfast and presentations from Senators Klobuchar and Smith, Representative Fischbach, Stauber and Finsted. Then we were sent to our individual meetings on the hill.

This year, Kendra and I partnered with Tim Sturdivant with the Cement Masons Local 633. The pairing was nice as we talked about how we need funding for transportation projects because it isn’t about the bridges and roads as much as it is about the businesses and people that build the roads and bridges. Food on the table. We had meetings with policy makers in both Senator’s offices as well as Representative Emmer’s and McCollum’s offices. The meetings are all a little bit different depending on where the conversation goes. But all in all great dialogue.

The day of meetings ended with a dinner hosted by the engineering consultants in attendance. This is a great debrief to hear how everybody’s meetings went. It is during this evening that we get the opportunity to connect with the County and City folks. MnDOT’s Commissioner Daubenberger dined with us, and we were able to dialogue about our DOT meeting with her. We spent time with Washington County Commissioners that evening and have a plan to look at contracting processes there and how to increase small business contracting. These are the connections that directly impact our members in the state.

This trip is always one of the highlights of my year in this role. I am so grateful to have made new connections, some of which I would like to call my friends. As an association that doesn’t have a lobbyist, it is the connections I rely on when advocating for our membership. Thank you to Margaret Donahoe for the continued advocacy in getting transportation dollars to keep our members working. Now the follow-up work begins. Until next year DC!

— B