Surveyors Traverse Capitol Hill on NSPS Lobby Day

NSPS members from 19 states ventured to Capitol Hill in Washington, DC on November 21 to visit their Congressmen and Senators during the society’s Lobby Day.  Scores of representatives were contacted on Davis-Bacon; the “Map It Once” bill; the need for locating pipelines, railroads and underground infrastructure; and concerns that privacy legislation will result in unintended limits on surveying and mapping.  A wrap-up meeting of the NSPS delegation featured remarks by Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Workforce Protections, who has lead the investigation into the Labor Department’s new policy classifying survey technicians as “laborers and mechanics” subject to the controversial Davis-Bacon Act.  Walberg thanked NSPS for its efforts and called the Labor Department’s actions an “affront” to the profession, and a costly burden, particularly on small business surveying firms.

A NSPS delegation met with the staff of Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) in the U.S. Capitol.  Pictured  L-R are NSPS Lobbyist John Byrd, Katherine Haley, Labor Policy Advisor to Speaker Boehner, Bob Akins , NSPS Governor /OH, NSPS Executive Director Curt Sumner, and NSPS Government Affairs Consultant John Palatiello.

Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI) chats with NSPS members before delivering remarks during Lobby Day. Pictured L-R are Bob Akins (OH), Tony Gregory (IN), Wade Bennett (OK), Becky Roland (CO), David Doyle (AAGS), Rep. Walberg and Jan Fokens (MI).