Congressman Derek Schmidt Talks Infrastructure, QBS, and the Road to D.C.
In this special episode of the QBS Express — recorded in Washington, D.C. — host Scott Heidner (Executive Director, ACEC Kansas) and co-host Rob Krewson (President, ACEC Kansas) sit down with U.S. Representative Derek Schmidt of Kansas for a wide-ranging conversation on infrastructure, policy, and public service.
About the Guest
Congressman Derek Schmidt has spent his career in Kansas public service — as a legislative staffer, ten years in the Kansas State Senate, three terms as Kansas Attorney General, and now representing Kansas in the U.S. House of Representatives. A licensed attorney, he brings a practicing professional's perspective to the policy conversation.
Congressman Derek Schmidt has spent his career in Kansas public service — as a legislative staffer, ten years in the Kansas State Senate, three terms as Kansas Attorney General, and now representing Kansas in the U.S. House of Representatives. A licensed attorney, he brings a practicing professional's perspective to the policy conversation.
What We Cover
- Congressman Schmidt's career path from the Kansas Senate to Attorney General to Congress
- His long-standing support for ACEC Kansas's Emerging Leaders Program, where he's spoken to the group nearly every year since its inception
- Why infrastructure investment matters — even in tough votes back home in southeast Kansas
- The case for qualifications-based selection (QBS) and why the best value isn't always the lowest price
- The outlook for a surface transportation reauthorization bill and the risks of letting authorization lapse
- What's changed moving from state to federal service — bigger bureaucracy, longer timelines, and the relationship-building required to get things done in a 435-member House
- How ACEC Kansas and its delegation work together on regulatory issues, not just legislation
Watch the Full Episode on ACEC National’s Engineering Inc: https://youtu.be/4BpTygqRegg?si=j3fMVw1XDq-ZnHJ0
