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Government Affairs Priorities
ASLA federal government affairs priorities should reflect the professional needs and advocacy concerns of ASLA members. To that end, the federal affairs priorities will be developed through the following process.
ASLA federal government affairs priorities should reflect the professional needs and advocacy concerns of ASLA members. To that end, the federal affairs priorities will be developed through the following process:
In even-numbered years preceding a new congress, ASLA will survey its members to determine member interests and priorities. Member input and potential priority issues will be analyzed by the government affairs staff and Government Affairs Advisory Committee and set of recommended priorities will be developed using the following filters:
- Landscape Architecture Expertise – Landscape architects have specific expertise that will allow ASLA and its members to play a leadership role on the issue or otherwise bring technical expertise to influence the public policy.
- Member Relevance – Issues must be relevant and important to a broad segment of the ASLA membership. An issue could be relevant because it relates to fundamental principles or beliefs held by the majority of members or because it has an economic impact on ASLA members.
- Federal Nexus – The issue must be one over which the Congress or a federal department/agency has jurisdiction.
- Timeliness – The issue will be or is likely to be on the congressional or administrative agenda in the next two years.
The recommended priorities will be presented to the Executive Committee at its summer meeting and to the Board of Trustees at its fall meeting for discussion and input. Input from the Executive Committee and Board will be reviewed by the government affairs staff and GAAC and the recommended priorities will be revised as appropriate. A final set of federal priorities will be presented to the Executive Committee for endorsement prior to the year-end.
Staff lobbying efforts, bill endorsements, written testimony, congressional correspondence, and allocation of the department’s government affairs resources will be made within the context of these priorities. However, ASLA will continue to endorse, as necessary and appropriate, other legislative initiatives consistent with Society policies.
Federal government affairs priorities will be re-evaluated as needed to ensure appropriate allocation of resources and to respond to changes in the political environment.