Washington Report – May 12, 2025

Latest News

National Public Works Weeks Events in DC

National Public Works Week is May 18-24 and the APWA Washington D.C. office is hosting multiple events on Capitol Hill to celebrate and recognize the week and the achievements of APWA members;
A roundtable breakfast focused on the public works workforce will be held May 20 with APWA members from South Carolina, Iowa, and Minnesota speaking about key programs their departments implement to bring more people into their teams and support their local infrastructure:
- APWA’s Chief Learning Officer will also speak about APWA’s education and credentialing programs with the panel being moderated by CEO Scott Grayson
- U.S. Dept. Of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer is expected to offer comments, along with House Public Works and Infrastructure Caucus Co-Chair Representative Dina Titus (D-NV)
Later on May 20, APWA will host its first APWA Awards Reception recognizing Top 10 and Projects of the Year winners from 2024:
- APWA President Dominick Longobardi will join the reception as well
On May 22, APWA’s Donuts and Trucks will take place in partnership with the D.C. Department of Public Works;
Resolutions recognizing National Public Works Week are also expected to again be introduced in the U.S. Congress;
As we celebrate “People, Purpose, Presence” across the country, share your community’s #NPWW activities throughout the week by tagging APWA Government Affairs on X and LinkedIn.

Updated Public Works Research Products Available

APWA Government Affairs has updated the sheets that profile the 3 largest public works projects in every state;
Additionally, the APWA “What is Public Works?” trifold has been updated to reflect impact from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, or IIJA;
All these products and more are available at US Government Affairs Public Works Research, so be sure to regularly check them out and share them with local, state, and federal elected officials—great to use for outreach during National Public Works Week!

FEMA Review Council First Meeting May 20

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Review Council has scheduled its first meeting for 3 p.m. ET on May 20;
Register to participate in the meeting virtually by contacting Patrick Powers, Designated Federal Officer of the President’s FEMA Review Council at FEMAreviewcouncil@hq.dhs.gov before 5 p.m., May 19;
Comments will be accepted through May 15 and may be submitted through the federal register portal;
- Be sure to include Docket ID DHS-2025-0013 in the subject line
APWA previously submitted comments which may be read here.

New FEMA Acting Administrator Named

David Richardson has been named as the senior official performing the duties of the FEMA administrator, taking over the position from Cameron Hamilton;
Prior to this role, Richardson served as the Assistant Secretary for the Department of Homeland Security’s Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office.

On the Horizon

(All times ET)

May 13 at 2 p.m., the House Ways and Means Committee is holding a mark-up on budget reconciliation;
May 13 at 2 p.m., the House Commerce and Energy Committee is holding a mark-up on budget reconciliation;
May 13 at 2:30 p.m., the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Disaster Management, District of Columbia, and Census Subcommittee will hold a hearing, Examining the Insurance Industry’s Claims Practices Following Recent Natural Disasters;
May 14 at 10 a.m., the House Homeland Security Committee will hold a hearing to review the President’s FY26 Budget Request for the Department of Homeland Security;
May 14 at 10 a.m., the House Appropriations Committee has a hearing on FY26 appropriations for the U.S. Dept. of Transportation;
May 14 at 10 a.m., the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has a member day hearing on transportation priorities;
May 14 at 10:30 a.m., the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works has a hearing on nominations to include for the Federal Highway Administration, and the Environmental Protection Agency;
May 15 at 10 a.m., The House Natural Resources Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee will hold a hearing, Fix Our Forests-How Improved Land Management Can Protect Communities in the Wildland-Urban Interface;
May 15 at 10 a.m., the House Appropriations Committee has a hearing on the FY26 budget proposal for the Environmental Protection Agency;
May 15 at 10 a.m. the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies has a hearing on the FY26 budget proposal for the U.S. Dept. of Transportation.