AIA Holds Inaugural Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Fly-In
AIA Government Affairs & Public Policy hosted its inaugural advocacy fly-in focused on engaging AIA's Latino and Hispanic members in federal advocacy. The delegation, comprised of senior AIA elected leadership and architects from New York, California, New Jersey, Washington, DC, and New Mexico, met with ten Congressional Hispanic Caucus offices to advance the profession's top federal priorities.
Discussions centered on implementation of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, restoring professional student loan designation for architects, strengthening historic preservation protections and design freedom, expanding opportunities for minority-owned architecture firms in federal contracting, and extending the Section 179D energy-efficient commercial buildings tax deduction.
The majority of meetings were held directly with Members of Congress, with the remaining meetings conducted with senior committee and policy staff responsible for these legislative portfolios. The fly-in strengthened relationships with key Hispanic Caucus offices, secured commitments to continue working with AIA on several priority issues, and elevated the profession's policy priorities among lawmakers serving on influential committees with jurisdiction over housing, education, tax, procurement, and historic preservation policy.
Advisory Council on Historic Preservation votes to Overhaul Historic Preservation Regulations
On Friday, July 27, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) voted on a sweeping rewrite of the regulations implementing Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (36 C.F.R. Part 800). These regulations govern how federal agencies consider impacts to historic properties during project planning and delivery. The revised regulations would diminish the voice and agency of the architects in this process, including:
- Shifting decision-making authorities almost entirely to federal agencies
- Limiting or eliminating the role of State Historic Preservation Officers (SHPOs), Tribal Historic Preservation Officers (THPOs), Tribes, and local governments in shaping outcomes
- Curtailing public participation and removing preservation organizations and community stakeholders from formal consultation roles
- Narrowing what qualifies as a "historic property," excluding thousands of culturally and historically significant sites
- Eliminate or weaken requirements to avoid, minimize, or mitigate harm to historic resources
- Allowing agencies to make unilateral determinations through internal reports rather than negotiated agreements using public input
This shift has major consequences. Section 106 has helped surface local knowledge, avoid costly project conflicts, and improve design outcomes by integrating preservation considerations early. A move away from consultation toward full agency control risks increasing project uncertainty, community opposition, and litigation exposure.
AIA Submits Comments on OMB Rule
AIA filed comments on OMB's proposed Rule "Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance" which overhauls the way the federal government gives out grants of all kinds.
In the comments, AIA urges OMB to narrow the rule, including the rule's broad termination authority, politicized review, and elimination of certain allowable costs including publication and conferences. If there are no delays, the rule will go into effect in October.
AIA Announces Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Response Partnership
AIA recently announced the signing of a Memorandum of Partnership with the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM), strengthening collaboration on resilience, emergency preparedness, and disaster response. IAEM is an international association representing over 6,000 emergency management professionals across the United States and nearly 30 countries. AIA and IAEM have long-standing connections through the work of architects in disaster preparedness and recovery. This new partnership coincides with National Emergency Management Awareness Month, which begins in August.
Components are encouraged to use IAEM's media toolkit and video to raise awareness of architects in the emergency management profession and the vital role they play in building resilient communities. Members can also engage with the broader emergency management community at the IAEM's 74th Annual Conference taking place this November in Long Beach, where sessions will explore topics including climate adaptation, reconstruction following the 2025 L.A. fires, weatherization, extreme heat, and crisis response.
Promoting the value of professional licensing in Montana
Research shows that simply explaining what professional licensing is can increase public support by 25%. That's why the Alliance for Responsible Professional Licensing (ARPL), a coalition that includes AIA, has launched a public awareness campaign-through billboards and digital advertising-as the state weighs changes to professional licensing for architects. Learn more here.
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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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