Kevin Robert Perry, FASLA, represented ASLA in testifying before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment on how landscape architects use green infrastructure to address water and stormwater management issues. The congressional hearing "Sustainable Wastewater Infrastructure: Measures to Promote Resiliency and Climate Adaptation and Mitigation" highlighted some federal tools, including the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and the Green Reserve Project, along with the importance of addressing our nation's water and stormwater management infrastructure. Watch or read Perry's testimony.
As of April 19, 40 states remained convened for legislative session. Staff is currently tracking nearly 200 occupational licensing bills. Occupational licensing legislation continues to largely focus on reducing mobility barriers to occupations that require a license to practice. The greatest concern of these legislative proposals are the one-size-fits-all "universal licensing" bills that reduce public protection.
The State Government Affairs team recently assisted the Illinois Chapter with grassroots advocacy efforts on the reenactment of the Illinois Landscape Architecture Registration Act (HB 246/SB 214). House Bill 246 unanimously passed the House on Friday, April 16, and has been transmitted to the Senate. Senate Bill 214 unanimously passed the Senate on Wednesday, April 21, and has been transmitted to the House. The Illinois Chapter and National ASLA are hopeful this legislation will be eligible for Governor J.B. Pritzker's signature in the coming weeks. National ASLA's grassroots assistance led to advocacy messages being sent to forty state legislators. This effort also obtained an additional co-sponsor, Sen. Julie Morrison, for SB 214.
ASLA urges Congress to adopt Active Transportation Policies. As Congress prepares to reauthorize the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, ASLA has sent both the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works a set of active transportation recommendations that would allow landscape architects to enhance their ability to produce cutting-edge projects across the nation. ASLA is working with Committee staff and other policy makers to adopt these recommendations.
The Green Infrastructure Working Group, of which ASLA is a founder and co-lead, sent a letter to the Biden-Harris administration outlining the group's shared priorities and urging the administration to include these priorities-as well as green infrastructure promotion and provision in general-in the framework for the American Jobs Plan. The group also held a meeting to discuss the priorities and plan out the next steps and best ways to work together to achieve those priorities.
National ASLA's LARE Prep Committee will host virtual L.A.R.E. Prep Workshops for Section 3 and Section 4 on May 7 and May 14, respectively. Participants can save $10 through Wednesday, April 28 with our early-bird registration price of $40. Workshop instructors, comprised of ASLA LARE Prep Committee members, will review the content and format of the exams, share study strategies and test taking tips, and engage in Q&A with the participants. ASLA also has on-demand workshops for Section 1 and Section 2 available through the ASLA online learning portal. Please help us spread the word to our emerging professionals of these invaluable resources.
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) published a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to apply for $1 billion in fiscal year (FY) 2021 discretionary grant funding through the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grants. Up to $30 million will be awarded to planning grants, including at least $10 million to Areas of Persistent Poverty, which could provide unique opportunities for landscape architects to work with underserved communities on much-needed equitable transportation projects. To provide technical assistance to prospective applicants, DOT is hosting a series of webinars during the FY 2021 RAISE grant application process. Landscape architects are encouraged to register for the webinars to learn more details about how to access RAISE funding for transportation projects. The deadline to submit an application is July 12 at 5:00 p.m. ET.
The next webinar in the US Access Board's free monthly series will take place May 6 from 2:30-4:00pm ET and will review requirements for play areas in the ADA and ABA Accessibility Standards, which apply to all newly designed or constructed play areas for children ages two and older. The requirements uphold accessible play areas at day-care facilities, parks, shopping malls, fast food restaurants, and other facilities.Visit the US Access Board website for more information and to register. Landscape architects are encouraged to register immediately for this critical webinar, as spaces do fill up very quickly.
On March 17, nearly 80 attendees participated in the ASLA and CLARB jointly hosted first-quarter web licensure summit (video/presentation). The webinar provided a 2021 legislative update, including information on reenactment of licensure in Illinois, and key highlights of the ARPL commissioned Oxford Economics research study, Valuing Professional Licensing in the U.S.
