AIA Nevada leaders travel to Washington, DC each February. The purpose of our annual trip is twofold - First, to speak directly with our congressional representatives about the current legislative issues that are most important to architects and the practice of architecture; Second, to meet with the leadership from other chapters from across the country and explore ways in which we can work more closely together to become “one AIA”. The effort to unify our organization and organize our resources to benefit all members is essential to building the future of the profession. While in DC, our chapter leaders confer with others from across the country and share their knowledge and experiences as well.
Our positions are as follows:
Rebuild & Renew America’s Communities: We are calling on Congress to provide funding for community rebuilding efforts through already-authorized programs such as the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) so that funds can be distributed to communities as quickly as possible.
Make Credit Available for Commercial Building Projects: We are asking Congress to help restore liquidity to credit markets by extending the deadline for Term Asset-backed Securities Loan Facility (TALF) through the end of 2011 and to pass the Equal treatment for Covered Bonds Act (H.R. 2896).
Expand the Energy Efficient Tax Deduction for Commercial Buildings: We are strongly urging Congress to enact legislation that enlarges the Energy Efficient Commercial Building Tax Deduction (26 U.S. Code 179D) from the current $1.80 per square foot to $3.00 per square foot as contained in the Expanding Building Efficiency Incentives Act (S. 1637/H.R. 4226).
Provide Relief for Small Businesses: We are asking Congress to support the Small Business Financing and Investment Act (H.R. 3854) and take steps to relieve the burdens of COBRA subsidies.
A Federal Commitment to 21st Century Schools: The AIA urges Congress to pass legislation that would provide funding to state and local school districts for the modernization and renovation of K-12 public schools. Specifically, the AIA calls on Congress to pass the 21st Century Green High-Performing Public Schools Facilities Act of 2009 (H.R. 2187). This legislation was approved by the House in May 2009.
The 2010 Grassroots Leadership and Legislative Conference took place February 3-5 at the Grand Hyatt in Washington, DC.
At the AIA’s 2010 Grassroots Leadership and Legislative Conference in Washington, DC, we called on more than 800 AIA leaders to send the message to Capitol Hill that America’s architects stand ready to help our nation recover from the ongoing economic crisis and lay the foundation for long-term economic growth. America’s architects, however, cannot do this alone. As Congress works to advance legislation to help create jobs, our leaders today presented the AIA’s key policy ideas that will invigorate not only the design and construction industry, but our nation as the whole.
While the message has rang through the halls of the U.S. Capitol, we now ask for your assistance to make sure that members of Congress continue to hear the message: that the design and construction industry is the backbone of the economy. And that in order to position our nation for long-term economic recovery, we must pursue policies that will create work in this sector and allow architects to design the homes, office buildings, schools, and other buildings that make up our nation’s communities.
As Congress continues to debate job-creation legislation, we urge you to contact your elected representatives and encourage them to enact the AIA’s common-sense agenda that will create jobs and position our nation for long-term prosperity.
