Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS) Legislative Leadership Summit
AIA Government Advocacy Committee board member Arathi Gowda participated in this year's Technology and the Clean Energy Transition Breakout Session. This panel examines how emerging tech is accelerating the shift to a carbon-neutral economy. Experts from industry and advocacy will discuss strategies for reducing emissions, expanding renewable energy access, and ensuring that the "green" workforce remains inclusive of AA & NH/PI entrepreneurs and workers. APAICS was founded alongside the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) and its programs focus on developing leadership, building public policy knowledge, and filling the political pipeline for Asian Americans and Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders to pursue public office at the local, state, and federal levels.
Department of Education Final Rule Published
AIA responded to the department of education's final rule which excludes the M.Arch and D.Arch degree from the definition of professional degree and puts hard caps on the amount of federal student loans students can take out starting July 1. See that message here: https://www.aia.org/about-aia/press/aia-criticizes-department-education-rise-rule-failing-acknowledge-architecture
We are shifting focus to a legislative fix, including working with several members of Congress to pass legislation reversing the caps and changing the degree designation. We have endorsed three bills efforts aimed at improving access to federal student loans for advanced degree students. H.R. 6574, the Loan Equity for Advanced Professionals Act (Rep. Timothy Kennedy, D-NY), would eliminate the current distinction between graduate and professional students by establishing uniform borrowing limits for all advanced degree programs. H.R. 6718, the Professional Student Degree Act (Rep. Mike Lawler, R-NY), clarifies federal statute by explicitly recognizing architecture and other licensure-based fields as professional degree programs. Finally, H.R. 6677, the Professional Degree Access Restoration Act (Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-NY), would fully restore the previous cost-of-attendance loan framework for graduate and professional students, reversing recently imposed federal caps.
Strengthening local advocacy through the LGA Task Force
AIA's Local Government Affairs (LGA) Task Force is building stronger connections between AIA and its local chapters to improve local advocacy capacity nationwide. Last quarter, the task force hosted its first Town Hall, bringing chapters together to share challenges and identify needs. Key takeaways include the need for advocacy training, stronger relationships with elected officials, peer collaboration, and better local resources. The task force is now developing resources and opportunities to support these efforts.
Key Actions:
- Connect chapters facing similar policy issues
- Pair experienced chapters with those seeking advocacy guidance
- Create spaces for local chapters to collaborate and share best practices
- Develop advocacy training and a local-focused resource hub
The LGA Task Force is excited to continue expanding outreach, gathering feedback, and building a stronger local advocacy network that empowers components and elevates the voice of architects in communities nationwide. You can help the Local Government Affairs task force strengthen local chapter advocacy efforts through peer-to-peer collaboration and submit your thoughts.
Welcome New Government Affairs Staff
Haley Nicholson recently joined GAPP as AIA's Senior Director of Federal Affairs and Michael Donovan is AIA's Senior Director of Climate and Resilience Policy.
Haley has a long career of government, policy, political campaigns, and lobbying experience and will focus on federal legislative issues, particularly related to the business of architecture such as taxes and infrastructure policy. She most recently worked for an international trade union.
Michael similarly has many years of experience spanning Capitol Hill and the Executive Branch and will focus on climate and resilience policy primarily at the federal level. He holds a Ph.D. and most recently worked for AIA's Knowledge & Practice Department.
You can reach Haley at haleynicholson@aia.org and Michael at michaeldonovan@aia.org.
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Courtney Prentiss, AIA, NOMA, NCARB
AIA Government Affairs Committee Member
Immediate Past NAC At-Large Director, Advocacy
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