On Feb. 13, the House and Senate approved HR 1–the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which will most certainly have an immediate and positive impact on this industry.

Our Publisher, Wally Evans, and I attended the 19th Annual Gabelli Pump, Valve & Motor Symposium in New York this week. Top executives from many of the major players in our industry were there to reflect on 2008 and give us some insight into 2009.

In a rare move, U.S. President Barack Obama went to Capitol Hill on Wednesday to personally pitch his stimulus plan to House Republicans. They were not impressed.

In our February issue, we feature the impact the new presidential administration's stimulus package will have on the pump industry, particularly with regard to infrastructure rebuilding in the water and wastewater sectors.

With financial uncertainty in a turbulent global market, and in light of a change in U.S. presidential administrations, experts in the pump industry still find reason for optimism and approach current economic challenges as business opportunities.