ACT Leadership Academy Accepting Applications

The ACT Executive Committee will select up to 15 individuals from among ACT members who apply to participate in the ACT Leadership Academy class of 2015. The program offers a combination of workshops, conferences, class leadership projects and assignments, teleconferences, online meetings, and web-based events that address challenges, demands, opportunities, and hot topics. Interested? Email ACT Executive Director Mark Wright for an application packet at wright@actweb.org. Application deadline: Dec. 29, 2014.

Help Shape Public Policy

Do you want to play a more active role in shaping and developing policies that will promote our industry? Participate in the ACT Public Policy Committee (PPC). Calls are the second Wednesday of the month (although calls may be rescheduled due to extenuating circumstances); the next call will be Wednesday, Dec. 10. To be added to the email list, email Jason Pavluchuk (Pavluchuk@actweb.org).

If you want to be a voting member of the committee, you will need to be nominated by either your chapter president or by the chair/co-chair of an ACT council in which you are active. Chapters and councils must submit their nominations for the PPC to the ACT Board this month for consideration at the board's January meeting.

For more information on the roles and responsibilities of an ACT PPC voting member, click here (PDF). Remember, you don't have to be a voting member to simply call in and participate in the PPC.

Transit Benefit Update

Last week a deal that would have permanently extended the transit benefit fell apart after the White House issued a veto threat because the measure failed to include the permanent extension of tax benefits the Obama administration and other Democrats have championed.

The House was poised yesterday to take up a tax extenders package that would just include retroactive extenders for 2014. This would have virtually no effect on commuters during 2014 or 2015. The House hopes to come back at the beginning of next year to put together a long-term extenders package.

It is unclear if the Senate will go along with the House version or insist on the passage of a two-year extension. If the Senate agrees to the House version, the transit/vanpool cap will be kept at $130/month while the parking benefit will remain at $250/month.

ACT and its partners are working to create parity for 2015. While it currently does not look good, things can change in the blink of an eye.

ACT Government Affairs Director Jason Pavluchuk was quoted in a Dec. 2 CQ/Roll Call story (Transit Tax Break Not The Real Deal, Advocates Say), explaining that a one-year retroactive tax extension package merely provides the benefit retroactively without aiding commuters, and that IRS rules make providing the benefit retroactively virtually impossible.

ACT Defends Telework at Government Reform Hearing

The House Oversight and Government Reform and Judiciary committees held a joint hearing Nov. 18 to examine what has been described as "systemic abuses and mismanagement" of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's (USPTO) telework program.

ACT sent a letter urging lawmakers to understand that any problems they find with the USPTO program are isolated and do not reflect telework practices among employers in general or even practices among most federal employees. That letter was submitted for the record by Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA). See the ACT letter here (PDF).

During the hearing, it was clear that members of Congress took ACT's message to heart, as the focus of the hearing was on poor management and lack of training rather than the value of telework.

Thanks to the ACT Telework/Alternative Work Arrangements Council, co-chaired by Elham Shirazi and Sara Hendricks, for providing guidance to help educate lawmakers about the need for appropriate internal controls and the benefits of well-managed telework programs.

FTA Opens Dialogue on Private Investment in Transportation

The Federal Transit Administration opened an online dialogue regarding private investment in transportation. ACT members are encouraged to submit their own comments and to support comments submitted for the dialogue by ACT. To vote, comment, and add your voice, visit USDOT's web page on Private Sector Participation in Public Transportation.

Members on the Move

Heather Wheeler

Heather Wheeler, executive director of Community Transportation Association of Idaho (CTAI), accepted a job as a senior consultant with CSG Government Solutions, which she described as "a national leader in planning, managing and supporting complex projects that modernize the information technology and business processes of large government programs." Her last day with CTAI will be Friday, Dec. 12. The CTAI board of directors appointed Director of Operations and Membership Kristin McGee as interim executive director.

Award Winner Spotlight

Editor's Note: The Award Winner Spotlight feature will return after the holidays.