News

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. Infrastructure Week serves to draw attention to and to educate the public and government officials about the importance of infrastructure to the economy, communities, and the environment.

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.

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). During the hearing there was continued positive discussion about the promotion and use of green infrastructure in projects funded, authorized, or allowed under this legislation.

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.