Putting Washington to Work for Architects: A Mid-Year Federal Update from the AIA

	Dear Will Wright, As our nation grapples with the most challenging economic climate in a generation and real environmental issues, the AIA staff and many very involved members have spent the first half of 2009 fighting for policies that not only reflect the values we hold dear, but will create and preserve jobs for architects across the country. The economic collapse of 2008 and the inauguration of a new president have spurred policymakers to propose major reforms to stimulate the economy, improve the nation's energy security, rebuild America's infrastructure, and reform the health care system. In each of these debates, the AIA has served as the credible voice for architects before Republicans and Democrats alike and made sure that our leaders understand and use our expertise in solving the critical issues facing the nation. Together we are making a real difference: our nation's leaders are listening to architects like never before. While together we have moved the ball forward on many key issues, there is much more work to be done. The AIA's advocacy efforts will continue, but in order to truly speak as one AIA about the values important to all architects, we need members like you to take part in the advocacy process at the grassroots level. If you would like additional information about how to get more involved to advocate for your profession, please contact Adam Melis, Director of Advocacy Outreach. You can also keep reading the Angle for the latest news and information about the AIA's federal advocacy agenda. Follow the AIA Federal Relations team on Twitter @aialobbyist. And do not hesitate to contact Andrew Goldberg of the AIA federal advocacy team with questions or comments. Here are some of the AIA's key accomplishments in the first half of 2009: Putting America Back to Work: The AIA's Rebuild and Renew Plan for Restoring our Economy and Greening our Communities From the moment they took office, the new president and Congress have focused on turning around the economy. The AIA has been at the center of the debate, ensuring through its Rebuild and Renew campaign that any economic recovery plan must invest in our communities. In February, after nearly four months of intense debate, President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 into law. The law contains a number of critical policies, directly advocated for by the AIA, which will put architects and their firms back to work rebuilding and renewing their communities, including: Allowing states and school districts to use billions of dollars to modernize, renovate, and repair schools; Investing $8.5 billion for green and affordable housing projects, lowering homeowners' energy bills; Providing billions of dollars to states and communities to make energy-efficient upgrades to buildings and communities; and Offering billions of dollars in investments in mass transit systems and the construction and renovation of inter-modal transit facilities. During the stimulus debate, the AIA brought together more than 80 organizations from across the political spectrum to advocate for school modernization and green buildings. Congress received more than 11,000 messages from your fellow AIA members in support of building-related provisions, ensuring that when the final bill was drafted, the AIA was at the table. The final economic recovery bill will create or save as many as 14,000 architect jobs. But we know that economic recovery will be a long, painful process. So the AIA is also working to encourage the federal government to loosen the tight credit markets which are putting financing for construction projects in jeopardy. Greening America's Homes One of the AIA's top priorities—and one of the three issues AIA members brought to their elected representatives during 2009 Advocacy Week—is passing legislation to encourage the design and construction of energy-efficient residences. Over the past two years, the AIA has worked with Congressman Ed Perlmutter (D-CO), an honorary member of AIA Colorado, to craft the GREEN Act. This legislation helps consumers build, buy, or remodel their homes to make them more energy-efficient—and use architects to do it. Thanks to the support of thousands of architects who called on Congress to pass this bill, last month the House of Representatives approved the GREEN Act. The AIA has also worked to create new, and expand existing, tax incentives for the design of green buildings. Legislation enlarging the Energy Efficient Commercial Buildings Tax Deduction has been introduced in both bodies of Congress, and the AIA is leading efforts to advance a bill to provide incentives for the design of energy efficient commercial buildings located near transit facilities. Making Health Care Work For All of Us Congress and the administration agree that making health coverage more accessible and affordable is a top priority, even as they disagree on how to change it. As health care costs surge, the AIA is working with its allies in the small business community to urge Congress to pass legislation that will provide more affordable health care for American businesses and workers. The AIA is also educating lawmakers about the benefits of well-designed hospitals and health care facilities, showing that architects are part of the solution. Building 21st Century Schools We know the benefits that energy-efficient, high-performance schools bring to students, teachers, and the environment. And thanks to your efforts, our nation's leaders are getting the message. Legislation that the AIA has championed to direct nearly $6.4 billion to school districts across the country to modernize existing schools was approved by the House of Representatives in May. The House also approved legislation backed by the AIA to help architecture and engineering schools develop programs to ensure their graduates are ready to design the sustainable buildings and communities of the future. Knocking Down Barriers to Small Firms The AIA has taken the lead in reforming a procurement rule that creates unnecessary burdens on firms that work with the federal government. By allowing retainage to be held on design fees, this rule allows federal agencies to withhold up to 10 percent of the fees design firms charge for performing architectural and engineering services, placing a crippling, unnecessary burden on small firms attempting to design federal buildings. After bringing the issue to the attention of the Small Business Administration and Capitol Hill in 2008, the AIA is working with federal officials in 2009 to see the rule changed so that architects will be paid for the work they do as they do it. Building a 21st Century Transportation System Our transportation system is broken, with crumbling infrastructure, sprawl, and congestion choking our economy. But reform is on the way. The AIA is working with Congress to advance legislation that would begin the process of rebuilding and renewing our nation's infrastructure. In June, the House Transportation Committee released a bill that echoes the results of the AIA's 2008 study, Moving Communities Forward. It recognizes what we architects already know: that well-designed transportation systems make livable, prosperous communities. The legislation includes polices that would integrate planning and design into transportation projects and community development, which in turn strengthens both, creating great places that are sustainable, economically vibrant, and safe. While the House is moving quickly to advance this legislation, the Obama administration and some in Congress want to wait another 18 months before pursuing this bill. Given the desperate need for transportation reform and the potential for putting people back to work, the AIA is calling on Congress and the White House to act now. Leading in Times of Disaster Highlighting the vital role that architects play in helping communities recover and rebuild after catastrophes, the House Homeland Security Committee called on the AIA to advise it on ways that FEMA and state and local emergency response agencies can utilize the talents of design professionals to help assess building damage, create temporary housing, and lead the rebuilding process. As Erica Rioux Gees, AIA, told the Committee in July, "Architects and their allied design and construction professionals are ideally and uniquely suited to help FEMA, state and local emergency management agencies, and communities address these challenges." For more information on how the AIA helps communities in times of need, visit the Communities by Design Disaster Assistance Web page. Designing for Diplomacy Putting architects back in the position of leaders on design, the AIA released a major new report this month to help the State Department design and build 21st Century embassies. The report, Design for Diplomacy: New Embassies for the 21st Century, calls on the Department to integrate embassy security with design excellence. It includes 59 recommendations made by the AIA's 21st Century Embassy Task Force, an unprecedented collaboration of more than 50 leading architects, engineers, landscape architects, ambassadors, diplomats, Foreign Service personnel, public art experts, and art and architectural historians. The AIA is sending the message that design excellence demonstrates that the U.S. can provide diplomatic facilities that are secure, sustainable, and symbolize America's vitality, enduring strength, decency, and innovation. Protecting and Revitalizing the U.S. Capitol The AIA's efforts to ensure that the next Architect of the Capitol is a licensed architect picked up steam as key Congressional leaders expressed their support this spring for ensuring that the next Architect is licensed. AIA members from across the country have made the case to their elected leaders, including Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, that the Architect of the Capitol needs to be licensed, and the AIA will continue fighting to ensure that the stewardship of the U.S. Capitol remains in the hands of someone with the education, training, and experience that only a licensed architect can bring. The AIA's government advocacy program is driven by you, and it needs your support and participation to succeed. By staying involved year round—responding to action alerts, calling and meeting with elected officials, participating in ArchiPAC—you help yourself and all architects have a voice on important issues. If you are already active in these areas— thank you for all you are doing. If not, then please consider becoming more involved! Send an e-mail to the AIA'sGovernment Advocacy team to learn how you can get involved. For More Information AIA Federal Advocacy Agenda Contact your members of Congress on key issues Sincerely, Peter J. Arsenault, AIA, NCARB, LEED-AP 2008-2009 National Vice President, The American Institute of Architects 2008-2009 Chairman, AIA Board Advocacy Committee
	The American Institute of Architects 1735 New York Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20006 800-AIA-3437 www.aia.org

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