Be the Voice of the Engineering Industry on Capitol Hill
A core feature of the ACEC Annual Convention & Legislative Summit is our impactful lobbying program, where hundreds of ACEC “citizen lobbyists” head to Capitol Hill to meet with lawmakers and advocate for our industry’s top priorities.
A Critical Moment for Infrastructure Policy
The 2026 Convention comes at a critical point as House and Senate leaders begin to move major infrastructure legislation that could define Congress’ most consequential initiatives for 2026. House Transportation & Infrastructure Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO)—who announced recently that he’s retiring from Congress at the end of the year—has stated publicly that he wants to move his surface transportation reauthorization bill through committee in April. If he’s successful in getting a bill out of committee in April, floor debate and passage in the House is plausible either later in the month or sometime in May.
The Full Advocacy Agenda
Water legislation is also on deck, including legislation to authorize new Corps of Engineers flood control and other water resources projects as well as the reauthorization of federal programs that support water and wastewater projects in the states. And looming over all of these initiatives are bipartisan negotiations around permitting reforms to streamline project delivery.
Collectively, these initiatives define the lobbying agenda ACEC members will bring to Capitol Hill in May: advancing a new surface transportation program, increasing investment in water infrastructure, and enacting permitting reforms to deliver projects more efficiently for our clients and the public.
Advocacy Fact Sheets
These advocacy fact sheets distill complex policy issues into clear, actionable talking points, equipping you to engage confidently and effectively on Capitol Hill.
Plan Ahead for Capitol Hill Engagement
ACEC’s Advocacy team is here to guide you every step of the way. If you have questions or need help getting started, do not hesitate to reach out. We are here to make the process seamless and successful.
Coordinate Your Lobbying Visits
Lobbying visits are typically coordinated through the ACEC State Organizations, so members are strongly encouraged to reach out to the ACEC State Executive in their home state to learn more and participate.
Scheduling Hill Meetings
For ACEC members making their own appointments with their congressional delegation, use the meeting request form and refer to the contact information for each office. Email the request to the Chief of Staff and Scheduler—note they may not confirm a meeting time until closer to the Convention (but it helps to request early).
Attend Our Virtual Briefing
A virtual briefing on key lobbying issues will be held Tuesday, April 28th at 1:30 pm ET. Registration details are coming soon, and all convention registrants are welcome. An on-site overview will also take place during the general session on Monday, May 4th at 11:45 am.
Hill Day Logistics
Getting to the Hill
The U.S. Capitol Grounds are approximately 1.5 miles from the Grand Hyatt, about a 15-minute Uber or Lyft ride to the Senate (Russell, Dirksen, Hart) or House (Rayburn, Longworth, Cannon) office buildings. Both are also accessible via Metro without transfers. For House meetings, take the Orange, Blue, or Silver Lines to Capitol South. For Senate meetings, take the Red Line to Union Station. You can pay Metro fares by tapping a credit card or mobile wallet—no SmarTrip card needed.
Getting into the Building
All visitors must pass through security, and lines can be long, especially in the late morning. Side entrances not directly on Independence or Constitution Avenue often have shorter lines. If traveling in a group, consider having one person check for a shorter entrance while others hold your place.
Hill Lunch Room
ACEC will have a lunchroom available from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM in Rayburn 2044.