ASLA and the Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards (CLARB) co-hosted for the first time a joint Licensure Summit June 22-24, 2018, in Columbus, Ohio. Participants included nearly 90 individuals representing over 40 states and Council of Landscape Architectural Board jurisdictions.

Sens. Kamala Harris (CA) and Chris Murphy (CT) have introduced S.3087, the Living Shorelines Act, legislation that will provide critical funding for our nation’s coastal communities to develop flood-resistant green infrastructure projects that integrate plants and local ecosystems.

ASLA convened an interdisciplinary Blue Ribbon Panel on Climate Change and Resilience and on June 19 released public policy recommendations to secure a sustainable and resilient future through design.

ASLA’s government affairs team, chapters, and grassroots advocates have been vigilantly monitoring -- and defending against -- state legislative and regulatory licensure threats throughout the first half of 2018. During this time, approximately half of the states have waded into the licensure issue.

May 14 through May 21 was a busy week-plus in Washington, D.C., with Congress working on important pieces of legislation and the many events in conjunction with the 6th annual National Infrastructure Week.

On May 9, the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works held a hearing on America’s Infrastructure Act of 2018. This hearing is the start of the biennial process of renewing the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). 

Recently, the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)  for $1.5 billion for a new round of Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grants under a new acronym. BUILD (Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development) grants will replace the TIGER program.

During the Advocacy Day wrap-up reception, ASLA President Greg Miller, FASLA, announced the 2017 Advocacy Awards winners and recognized their outstanding achievements in furthering the advocacy priorities of the Society.