Government Affairs/Licensure

2008 Lobby Day

On May 8, ASLA members from across the country met on Capitol Hill to participate in ASLA’s Lobby Day 2008. Landscape architects met with their members of Congress to discuss legislative issues important to the profession, including:

• Funding for the Historic American Landscapes Survey. ASLA urges Members of Congress to support $800,000 in funding for HALS in the FY 2009 budget.

• Support for comprehensive climate change legislation. ASLA members will ask their members of Congress to support two climate change bills: S.2191, America’s Climate Security Act of 2007, and H.R. 1590, The Safe Climate Act of 2007.

• Green energy education. ASLA members will encourage their U.S. senators to support H.R. 1716, the Green Energy Education Act, which funds university curriculum focusing on sustainable design. This measure overwhelmingly passed the House of Representatives and is now awaiting action in the Senate.

• Energy Conservation through Trees Act. ASLA members will encourage their U.S. Representative to support the Energy Conservation through Trees Act of 2008 (H.R. 5867, which will help improve air quality and lower the need for energy consumption.

For more details on the issues and background materials, visit the 2008 Lobby Day webpage.

Latest News from the Capitol

Congressman Leonard Boswell (IA) has introduced H.R. 5858, Combating Climate Change Through Individual Action Act of 2008, which would provide incentives for individuals who engage in green infrastructure improvements that sequester carbon emissions. Specifically, the legislation would provide incentives for building owners who establish green roofs or plant trees, shrubs, and bushes on their property. H.R. 5858 would also encourage farmers engage in techniques that increase the carbon sequestration potential of their soil, and would direct the Secretary of the Treasury to determine tax incentives for afforestation of areas across the country. H.R. 5858 is currently in the House Ways and Means Committee. ASLA is encouraging other Representatives to cosponsor this important legislation.

Congressman Ed Perlmutter (CO) has introduced legislation that recognizes The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) and landscape architects’ expertise in site planning, tree canopy coverage, and green roofs. H.R. 6078, The Green Resources for Energy Efficient Neighborhoods Act (The GREEN Act), is legislation to provide incentives for consumers to buy, build, or remodel their homes and businesses to improve their energy efficiency. The bill includes a provision to require the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to provide Residential Energy Efficient Block Grants to local communities and states to carry out energy efficiency improvements in new and existing singlefamily housing units. The HUD Secretary shall consult with ASLA in providing green roofs, tree canopy coverage, and site planning and green space techniques for the housing units to become more energy efficient. The House Committee on Financial Services is expected to hold a hearing on the legislation the week of June 9th.

Representative Doris Matsui (CA) introduced H.R. 5867, the Energy Conservation through Trees Act of 2008 on April 22 to help improve air quality and lower the need for energy consumption. This legislation would establish a grant program to utilize targeted residential tree planting techniques as a means of helping to reduce energy usage in homes across the country. ASLA began working with the Congresswoman early last year in conjunction with Casey Trees, a non-profit tree planting organization, on this bill. ASLA is particularly pleased to report that the final version of the legislation includes specific recognition of landscape architects in addition to ASLA-recommended provisions, including:

• Establishing an education and information campaign to encourage residents to maintain their shade trees over a long term.
• Requiring monitoring and reporting on the survival, growth, overall health and estimated savings of the provided trees.
• Requiring tree recipients to provide stewardship and care of the trees.

The legislation would also allow ASLA to recommend a registered landscape architect to participate on the local technical advisory committees to provide advice and consultation to the program (see page 13 of the bill text).

Complete Streets legislation has been introduced in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. On March 3, Senators Tom Harkin (IA) and Tom Carper (DE) introduced S.2686, The Complete Streets Act of 2008, legislation which would recommend that during the planning and design of transportation corridors, states and Metropolitan Planning Organizations take steps to create appropriate and safe transportation facilities for all those using the roadways including motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists, and riders of public transportation. Complete Streets policies promote the creation of more walkable and public transportation-oriented communities, thereby improving pedestrian safety, encouraging healthy and active lifestyles, helping to mitigate climate change and helping to reduce dependence on foreign oil. On May 1, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA) introduced H.R. 5951, The Safe and Complete Streets Act, which is House companion legislation to the Senate bill. As a member of the Complete Streets Coalition, ASLA has worked to have this original legislation introduced in both chambers and will continue its efforts toward passage of bills. ASLA encourages you to take action to urge your Representatives to support Complete Streets legislation and make our roadways accessible for all users. For more information, including the text of the legislation, visit the Coalition website.

Congressman Russ Carnahan (MO), along with 25 other Members of the House of Representatives sent a letter on March 17 to the House Interior Appropriations subcommittee requesting $800,000 in funding for fiscal year 2009 for the Historic American Landscapes Survey (HALS), a program within the National Park Service. The requested funding would support core staff, including landscape architects, historians, and geographic information systems (GIS) specialists, as well as allow the program to provide technical assistance and small seed grants to local groups. The mission of HALS is to record historic landscapes across the country and preserve them in the Library of Congress so that future generations may learn from and enjoy them well into the future. The House Interior Appropriations subcommittee is expected to begin considering a bill to fund the Departments of Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency, and other related agencies in early May.

The National Landscape Conservation Act (H.R. 2016) was approved by the House of Representatives on April 9 by a vote of 278-140. To see how your Representative voted, see the Roll Call Vote on the ASLA Advocacy Network. This measure would provide permanent protection for the 26 million acre National Landscape Conservation System, a collection of over 800 premier national conservation areas, national monuments, wilderness areas, wild and scenic rivers, and national historic and scenic trails throughout the West. The Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, the Lewis and Clark National Trail, the Grand Canyon, Parashant National Monument, and the California National Historic Trail are just a few examples of these treasured lands and waters that will be protected under this bill. As a member of the National Landscape Conservation Alliance, ASLA worked with coalition members to secure House passage of this bill. ASLA will continue to work with the Senate to pass S. 1139, companion legislation that passed the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee last year.

H.R. 1716, The Green Energy Education Act of 2007: ASLA is currently working to urge Senate passage of H.R. 1716, The Green Energy Education Act of 2007, a bill that would create a partnership between the Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation (NSF) to support undergraduate and graduate programs that offer curricula focusing on the design and construction of high performance buildings, including programs in architecture, landscape architecture, and engineering. The Green Energy Education Act of 2007, sponsored by Congressman McCaul of Texas, unanimously passed the House of Representatives in June 2007, and includes an amendment that specifically included landscape architects in the category of design professionals that are critical to designing energy efficient buildings.

No Child Left Inside Act: ASLA has officially signed on as a member of the No Child Left Inside Coalition to urge Congress to pass H.R. 3036 and S. 1981, The No Child Left inside Act, legislation that would provide school districts funding, training, and flexibility to enhance environmental education programs. The legislation would also help students gain valuable hands-on experience in nature and a better understanding of the relationship between the natural and built environments. To take action on this important issue, click here.

Chief Administrative Officer Dan Beard unveiled his Green the Capitol final report to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D,CA) on June 21, 2007. The final report includes all of ASLA’s recommendations for sustainable practices for site conditions for the U.S. Capitol, the House Office Buildings, and the Capitol grounds. ASLA recommended sustainable practices for stormwater management, water efficiency, biodiversity, expanding tree canopy coverage, and maintenance practices. In December 2007, a six-month Green the Capitol report card was released, illustrating the quick start for lasting changes to make U.S. Capitol Complex more sustainable. ASLA and its recommendations in House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s Green the Capitol Initiative were discussed during debate on the floor of the House of Representatives in June 2007. During debate of the Legislative Branch Appropriations bill, Congresswoman Linda Sanchez (D-CA) attempted to offer two amendments based on ASLA’s recommendations for creating green roofs on the House Office Buildings and for using tree canopy coverage in the House parking lots. Click here to view the video.

Security Design
Through the use of good security design, it is possible to develop perimeter security that is highly protective and better integrated with the surroundings. This approach maintains the openness that is the hallmark of our democracy and way of life. The American Society of Landscape Architects is working with the public and private sectors to incorporate these principles. Learn more>

SAFETEA-LU
In 2005, Congress passed and the President signed the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). SAFETEA-LU establishes federal transportation policy and funding for the next five years. It continues programs, including transportation enhancements and recreation trails, and creates new ones, such as Safe Routes to Schools, that are especially relevant to landscape architects. The American Society of Landscape Architects will be monitoring implementation of the law and working to ensure that our transportation system becomes more sustainable, safe, and diverse. Learn more>

Water Resource Planning and Management
Economic Vitality, homeland security, quality of life, and natural ecosystems all rely on ample, clean water supplies. By adopting strategies to control run-off, such as effective stormwater management, we can begin to reduce non-point source pollution. By preserving and restoring wetlands and coastal ecosystems, such as barrier islands and marshlands, we can maintain and improve our ecological systems and mitigate natural disasters, including hurricanes and floods. The American Society of Landscape Architects continues to advocate for these and other measures, which encourage wiser use of this precious and finite resource. Learn more>

Disaster Response & Hazard Mitigation
The scale of natural destruction and personal tragedy caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita is seared into the nation's consciousness. While attention is properly focused on the Gulf Coast, every region of the country is vulnerable to destructive natural disasters. The American Society of Landscape Architects is committed to making communities and families across the country safer by strengthening natural defenses, mitigating hazardous conditions, and improving planning at the local, state, and national levels. Learn more>