Due to ASLA’s recent endorsements and assistance reintroducing various pieces of legislation in Congress, ASLA was featured in Member’s press releases including:
On March 31, ASLA’s Government Affairs team presented at the 2023 LABash Conference in Manhattan, Kansas. The presentation, titled “Blaze Your Trail to the White House,” educated landscape architecture students about well-suited federal and state policy internships, fellowships, and other opportunities. Additionally, the session provided insight into specific application requirements and deadlines and equipped students with resources and tips for drafting policy internship applications.
State Government Affairs is tracking 86 bills related to climate change. Each bill has the potential to create new opportunities for landscape architects to lead on state-level mitigation and adaptation efforts. Each bill also represents an opportunity for landscape architects to advocate for the profession with state policymakers.
As of May 4, 32 states remain convened for legislative session. State Government Affairs has been tracking 125 occupational licensing bills, including sunset renewal legislation in Texas, Alabama, Maryland, and Oklahoma, board legislation in North Dakota and Utah, and deregulation legislation in New Hampshire and South Carolina. As licensure bills and legislation specific to the landscape architecture profession are introduced, members and chapters can track them on the ALSA website.
In early 2023, ASLA encouraged all chapters to plan and host a State Advocacy Day. To support this effort, the State Government Affairs team held training webinars for chapter leaders and created a new webpage full of resources for Chapter leaders and volunteers to use before, during, and after advocacy meetings with state legislators. To date, more than a dozen chapters have held State Advocacy Days with additional chapters expressing interest in holding a State Advocacy Day later in 2023. Read more in LAND.
The ASLA Potomac Chapter, with collaboration from ASLA National, has introduced a bill to exempt landscape architects from the service sales tax that had been in place since 2016. This bill will benefit both landscape architects and clients in the District of Columbia.
House Bill 1465, was signed into law by Governor Burgum on April 25. State Government Affairs worked with the ASLA Nebraska-Dakotas Chapter to modify the State Board of Architecture and Landscape Architecture to include a landscape architecture seat. As enacted, the Board will now comprise of three architects, one landscape architect, and one member of the public. These changes will strengthen the board and align North Dakota with national best practices.
On April 17, ASLA participated in a roundtable with Congressman Blumenauer (OR) and fellow members of the Congressional Bicycle Caucus on Capitol Hill. The roundtable provided ASLA and other interested organizations a forum to share thoughts on how best to advance cycling policies in Congress and make the caucus an effective advocate for those priorities. During the discussion, ASLA highlighted how landscape architects are leaders in planning and designing active, efficient, safe, and equitable multimodal transportation networks. ASLA's Federal Active Transportation Resources are located here.
On March 22 ASLA and CLARB held the 2023 1st quarter joint Web Licensure Summit. The event, attended by Chapter and Licensing Board leaders, included a legislative update that featured discussions on the recent threats to landscape architecture licensure, sunset bills, and more, and updates related to the implementation of the Uniform Licensure Standard and CLARB Certification.
ASLA submitted comments to the Biden administration highlighting the Society’s recent actions and commitments to invest in nature. The administration requested organizations to share their new actions to invest in nature-based jobs, engage youth, and use nature to create resilient cities and communities. ASLA emphasized its Career Discovery and Diversity programming, advocacy efforts to pass outdoor learning classrooms legislation, and the ASLA Climate Action Plan.
ASLA sent a letter to the EPA in response to a Request for Information on "Inflation Reduction Act Programs to Lower Embodied Greenhouse Gas Emissions Associated with Construction Materials and Products." The letter emphasized the need to account for embodied carbon in the entire built environment, specifically in exterior site elements.
Congress is working on funding for federal programs for fiscal year 2024, and ASLA has worked with coalition partners to request funding for key programs, including about $3.5 billion for National Park Service (NPS) programs; $103 million for NPS cultural resources programs; $58 million for the National Scenic Byways Program; $25 million for Every Kid Outdoors Program, and others.
The Federal Highway Administration has announced $848 million for the Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-Saving Transportation (PROTECT) Program — competitive grant funding for local governments and organizations, including transit agencies, to undertake projects to address the climate crisis.
Under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, DOT is directed to advance research and development that improves the safety, efficiency, reliability, resiliency, and sustainability of passenger and freight rail transportation. New funding announced will finance a total of $2.5 million for research in rail infrastructure, shared corridors, grade crossing safety, resiliency, and energy efficiency. Applications are due no later than 5:00 p.m. ET July 3, 2023.
ASLA is addressing the biodiversity crisis by working with coalition partners to reintroduce the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act. Advocacy from landscape architects is a critical first step toward addressing the biodiversity crisis. Take action today!
The Federal team is working with Congress to pass the Outdoors for All Act. The bill would help fund new parks, the renovation of existing recreation facilities, and the development of infrastructure supporting outdoor education in underserved communities. Take action for park equity today!
ASLA is working with Senator Brown (OH) and Representative Gallego (AZ-7) to pass the Excess Urban Heat Mitigation Act. This measure calls for the use of nature-based solutions like shade trees, green roofs, and porous surfaces to reduce temperatures in communities nationwide. Take action today!
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