AUGUST 2004
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS UPDATE
IN THIS ISSUE …
1.
FEMA Map Modernization News
2.
USGS Coalition
3.
Overtime Rules Go Into
Effect
4.
RESPA Related Legislation
FEMA Map Modernization
News. There have been several important events
recently regarding the FEMA Flood Map Modernization project. First of all,
there is a name change to the project. It is now called FEMA’s Multi-Year Flood
Hazard Identification Plan. ACSM, along with other organizations, urged FEMA to
make sure that the main purpose of the project remains the modernization of
flood maps. Keeping the words “flood hazard” in the title of the project
accomplishes that request. Secondly, Department of Homeland Security Under Secretary
Mike Brown recently allowed the public release of FEMA's Multi-Year Flood
Hazard Identification Plan (MHIP). The first draft MHIP will be posted to
FEMA's Flood Hazard Mapping Website Thursday, Sept. 2. The public
review period for this version of the Plan will extend to Friday, Sept. 24th.
FEMA’s Flood Hazard Mapping website is located at: http://hazards.fema.gov. Check back with
the ACSM website for more information about the project.
USGS News. The USGS recently
established the National Geospatial Programs Office, which will be located
within the Geospatial Information Office. The office was created as part of a
reorganization effort to strengthen geographic research and to consolidate
geospatial data programs in the USGS. As a result, the National Map will move
from the Geography Discipline to the Geospatial Information Office. The
National Geospatial Programs Office will oversee the portfolio of national
geospatial programs for which the USGS has responsibility, including the
Federal Geographic Data Committee, the Geospatial One Stop Project, and the
Dept. of Interior Enterprise Geospatial Information Management activity. The
decision to reorganize is in direct response to discussions with constituent
groups about how best to meet their geospatial data needs.
Overtime Rules Go Into Effect. The Department of Labor’s
new rules relating to overtime went into effect on August 23. Under the new rule, workers paid less than $23,660 or $455
per week are now automatically guaranteed overtime regardless of their titles
or duties. Hourly workers are guaranteed overtime regardless of how much they
are paid. Blue collar and manual laborers and workers are also guaranteed
overtime under these newly effective rules.
To
learn more about the new overtime security rules go to www.dol.gov/fairpay.
This website includes fact sheets, video instruction and is searchable. It also
tells workers how to file a complaint with the Department of Labor if they
believe they are improperly being denied overtime.
RESPA Related Legislation. As many members know, ACSM
recently drafted language for a legislative bill which would, among other
things, require that prospective homebuyers be given notice about the
advantages of having a land survey done prior to closing. We’ve taken this
draft language to various Members of Congress, particularly those members on
the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee to (1) get their
opinion of the proposed language and (2) get their advice on how to proceed to
accomplish our goal of having the language become law. As part of our meetings,
Laurence Socci met recently with Mark Calabria, Majority Staff, Senate Banking
Committee. Mr. Calabria seemed to be supportive of our proposed language and he
offered some good advice on how to proceed. He mentioned that RESPA is working
on a revised booklet, but he doesn't think it will be done for six months to
one year. We should not have a problem getting our proposed language into the
revised RESPA booklet. If we are able to get our language into the booklet, it
will accomplish our ultimate goal and there will be no need to take the
legislative route. We will discuss this issue in greater detail at the JGAC
meeting in October.