National ASLA Government Affairs Brief

Government Affairs

September 11-13, the Government Affairs held its annual Advocacy Summit in Albuquerque, NM. This year’s summit, hosted by the New Mexico Chapter, brought together 39 attendees from 31 chapters across the country, and the message provided information and strategies to foster strong, proactive, and engaging advocacy programs. Participants also heard presentations from chapters that have faced recent challenges to licensure or licensing requirements, including Connecticut, Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana and brainstormed on specific techniques to apply during any upcoming challenges. There was a tour of the Rail Yards, and included an overview of the proposed master plan that envisions reinvigorating the historic property to create housing, commercial uses, open park space, community, and art space. A bike ride on a portion of the city’s 50-mile activity loop exposed everyone to local landscape architecture pedestrian and bicycle projects.

The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), the third most accessed program by landscape architects, is set to expire in 14 days if Congress does not act to renew this important program.We need every ASLA member to send a message and/or tweetyour members of Congress urging their support for America's most important conservation program.

The Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) is also in jeopardy, with some members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee working to eliminate the program. ASLA staff is working with coalition members and legislators to fend off this attack. However, it is critical that legislators hear from ASLA members on this critical program. Please take a moment to encourage your chapter members and colleagues to send a message to their legislators about continuing TAP so that landscape architects may continue to plan and design these community biking and walking projects.

Step It Up! The Surgeon General’s Call to Action on Walking and Walkable Communitieswas issued last week. The Call to Action includes five strategic goals to promote walking and walkable communities in the United States, including: designing communities that make it safe and easy to walk for people of all ages and abilities; and promoting programs and policies to support walking where people live.

America Walks and the Every Body Walk! Collaborative have announced anew micro grant program designed to assist local walking advocates build on the momentum of the newly released Surgeon General's Call to Action. Funding is available for 10-15 community groups for activities designed to increase local walking programming and stimulate community demand for infrastructure improvements that provide accessible, safe, walkable places for the entire community. The deadline is October 15.

This week, Legislative Analyst Leighton Yates is participating in the annual meeting and Advocacy Day of the Outdoors Alliance for Kids (OAK), a coalition aimed at connecting America's youth to the outdoors. The meeting provided the opportunity to foster new relationships with partner organizations as well as to advocate for legislation important to ASLA, such as the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) and Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF).