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Update from the Chair of the Government Affairs Committee

  • 1.  Update from the Chair of the Government Affairs Committee

    Posted 16 hours ago

    AIA Leadership Summit & Hill Day Summary  

    On February 12th, nearly 600 AIA members descended on Capitol Hill-demonstrating the collective power and voice of our profession. In a single day, members held nearly 400 meetings with Congressional offices, delivering a clear and unified message centered on four critical priorities for architects and the communities we serve:  

    1. Extension of the 179D high-performance building tax credit,  
    1. Support for key housing legislation like the Housing for the 21st Century Act and the ROAD to Housing Act,  
    1. The inclusion of architectural degrees as professional degree programs regarding graduate student loans, and 
    1. Advocacy for design freedom in federal architecture and the preservation of public input in the modification of federal buildings. 

    Additionally, attendees participated in a variety of different speaker sessions, workshops, and networking opportunities that enhanced members' professional, technical, and advocacy skills.  

     

    March 5th National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) Meeting on the White House Ballroom 

    The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts voted on February 19th to approve the White House State Ballroom at the concept level, and the National Capital Planning Commission is slated to do the same on March 5th. You can submit comments or petition to provide virtual oral testimony at the meeting before noon on March 4th, though we encourage you to submit comments and requests as soon as possible. Submit your comments as a PDF via email to info@ncpc.gov, or register to testify here. In the sign-up form, you would be speaking as an individual, not on behalf of an organization. More information on the NCPC meeting can be found at this link. Contact juliafiedler@aia.org if you plan to testify live during the meeting. 

     

    Professional Federal Designation of Architecture  

    The Department of Education is currently accepting comments on its restructuring of what degree programs are labeled "professional" for the purpose of qualifying for higher annual and lifetime borrowing limits. AIA is currently coordinating with an alliance of architecture groups to advocate with one voice for the inclusion of M.Arch and D.Arch degrees as professional under the department's definition. The comment period will close on March 2nd.  

     

    AIA President Illya Azaroff, FAIA, Releases Statement on Repeal of Endangerment Finding 

    Last week, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) moved to repeal the 2009 Endangerment Finding, an act that would impact global emissions standard making in the built environment for years to come. AIA President Illya Azaroff, FAIA released a statement condemning this decision, stating, "This policy reversal will continue to weaken the United States' position as a global climate leader, undermine trust in the federal government as a reliable partner, and jeopardize decades of progress in reducing carbon emissions." He noted that architects will lead through design, with an eye toward, "science-driven solutions that strengthen public safety, economic resilience, and environmental performance." Read his statement here.



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    Courtney Prentiss, AIA, NOMA
    AIA Government Affairs Committee Member
    Immediate Past NAC At-Large Director, Advocacy
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