The document summarizes the AIA's national advocacy program and opportunities for member involvement. It outlines the AIA's advocacy work at the federal, state and local levels across issues like budget, transportation, tax reform and jobs. It discusses current advocacy priorities like access to credit and regulatory relief. The presentation encourages architects to get involved through grassroots outreach and provides tips for effective advocacy meetings with legislators.

1. Design
National Advocacy Trends and Opportunities
Paul Mendelsohn
Vice President, Government and Community Relations

2. 1. General Overview of AIA National Advocacy Program areas
-department organization
-2010/11 successes
2. Current Federal issue opportunities and challenges
-Budget (Super Committee)
-Transportation
-Tax Reform
-Jobs and the economy
3. The AIA's Rebuild and Renew effort (our federal agenda)
-Access to credit
-remove regulatory burdens
-money for building retrofits
-transportation
4. A look at the States - Practice Related Issues
5. Getting Involved- How to and why

3.
NAC2009AnnualMee&ng
Advocacy
One
Powerful
Voice
in
Government
The
AIA
represents
the
interests
of
architects
before
federal,
state,
and
local
governments
and
other
policy-­‐making
bodies.
This
outreach,
coupled
with
sustained
member
parDcipaDon
and
acDve
involvement
in
the
poliDcal
process,
enables
the
AIA
to
advocate
on
behalf
of
legislaDve,
regulatory,
and
related
issues
important
to
AIA
members.

4. Advocacy
Overview
• Government
and
Community
RelaDons
Team:
IntroducDon,
roles,
and
responsibiliDes
• 2010
Recap:
Overview
of
Accomplishments
• 2011
Issues
Preview:
Grassroots
and
Beyond
• 2011
Advocacy
CommiLee:
Work,
structure,
and
focus
• The
Advocacy
Leadership
ImperaDve:
ArchiPAC,
Outreach,
and
CommunicaDon

5.
NAC2009AnnualMee&ng
Advocacy:
Roles
&
ResponsibiliDes
Advocacy

6. The Team
AIA
GCR
Federal Relations
Congressional Lobbying
Agency Relations
Federal Regulatory
Federal Agencies
Procurement
Advocacy Outreach
ArchiPAC
AIAAdvocacy Center
State Relations
Resource Development
State Government Network
Local Relations
Local Government Network
Resource Development
Codes
Building Codes (including the IgCC)
Sustainability
Design
Center for Communities by Design
Design Assistance Teams
Other Areas
Disaster Assistance
Civic Engagement

7. Federal
RelaDons
The
Federal
RelaDons
team
works
with
Congress,
the
White
House,
and
various
agencies
to
educate
government
leaders
and
others
about
the
profession
and
the
AIA's
policies,
posiDons,
and
objecDves
related
to
community
development,
livability,
and
the
business
and
pracDce
of
architecture

8. Advocacy
Outreach
The
Advocacy
Outreach
team
focuses
on
engaging
members
in
the
advocacy
process.
Specific
tacDcs
include
sending
acDon
alerts,
educaDng
architects
on
how
to
be
more
effecDve
advocates,
and
soliciDng
support
for
ArchiPAC
-­‐
the
AIA’s
Federal
poliDcal
acDon
commiLee

9. State
RelaDons
The
AIA’s
State
RelaDon’s
team
collaborates
with
components
and
members
to
promote
the
InsDtute's
policies
and
posiDons,
and
provides
strategic
assistance
and
guidance
on
numerous
legislaDve
and
regulatory
issues
that
have
an
impact
on
architects.

10. Local
RelaDons
The
Local
RelaDons
team
promotes
the
AIA's
public
policies
and
empowers
local
components
to
effecDvely
manage
their
legislaDve
and
regulatory
efforts.

11. Codes
and
Standards
The
Codes
and
Standards
team
strives
to
ensure
that
architects
are
involved
in
the
development
of
our
naDon’s
building
codes
and
works
with
components
on
code
adopDon
at
the
state
and
local
level.

12. Communi&es
By
Design
The
Center
for
CommuniDes
By
Design
is
a
catalyst,
convener,
and
source
of
informaDon
that
helps
AIA
members
work
with
ciDzens,
businesses,
public
officials,
and
other
stakeholders
to
envision
and
create
more
livable
communiDes.
Good
design
is
an
investment,
and
well-­‐designed
communiDes
will
aLract
and
benefit
residents,
businesses,
and
visitors,
and
meet
the
needs
of
present
and
future
generaDons.

13. 2009 – 2010 Recap
• Stopped a tax increase on s-corps
• Federal Construction $
• Architect of the Capitol
• Repeal of the 10% retainage
• Construction Industry Mandate
• McEmbassy
• Energy Efficient Commercial
Building Deduction
Success on a wide range of business and
practice issues
Working with GSA and other agencies on
design service procurement
Working with USAID on issues related to
Haiti

14. 2009/2010 Recap: S-Corps
• A “pay-for” measure to close a tax loop-hole
• John Edwards problem
• No hearing – targeted to Architects, Lawyers,
Doctors, but not unlicensed services
• Dead for the time being – but the loop-hole is still
there

15. 2009/2010 Recap: 10% Retainage
• Little known, seldom followed federal rule
• Paul Renker, AIA of Florida brought it to the attention of
his regional director of the Board
• AIA reviews, and takes on the issue
• Congressional hearings, SBA takes notice
• Rule is changed to be in line with other contracts

16. 2011
ü!

17. 2011 Current Issues: Credit
• HR 940 – United States Covered Bonds Act
• HR 1356 – Credit Access for Main Street Act
• Looking to promote other options

18. 2011 Current Issues: Transportation
• Senator Barbara Boxer
• Boxer – Inhoff: 2 year re-authorization
• Mica Bill – 6 year re-authorization
• Other proposals: Infrastructure Bank
• Moving Communities Forward

19. 2011 Current Issues: 179D
• Part of 2005 Energy Policy Act
• Allow architects and other to take deduction in the
owner is a government
• Extended to 2013
• More than a quarter of a billion firms have
received the deduction
• Needs reform

20. 2011 Current Issues: Super Committee
• Deficit “Super Committee”
members announced: 3 each
from House Rs, House Ds,
Senate Rs, and Senate Ds
• Task: Must pass legislation
reducing the budget deficit by at
least $1.2 trillion by January 15,
2012 or automatic spending
reductions go into effect.
• First “Super
Committee”meeting: September
16
Source: www.money.cnn.com

21. 2011 Current Issues: Super Committee
• Tax Reform
• S-Corp Tax Change
• Additional Construction Cuts
• Dept. of Energy Cuts
• Support to State and Local Governments

22. 2011 Current Issues: Other
• CBECS Funding
• Energy Codes
• Foreign Markets

23. Future Issues
• Tax Reform

24. More to be worked on

25. National Trends

26. Looking Across the Country
• Profession under assault
• Prototypical Schools
• QBS / Procurement
• Professional Services Taxes

27. Regulatory Changes

28. What can you do?
And what no one else will do for you!

29. Why Grassroots Advocacy
• Architects can not depend on
others
• Legislators for the most part
do not understand the Design
process and the architects role
in it
• AIA has been doing this for
more than 150 years
Congress shall make no law respecting an
establishment of religion, or prohibiting the
free exercise thereof; or abridging the
freedom of speech, or of the press, or the
right of the people peaceably to assemble,
and to petition the Government for a
redress of grievances
-- The First Amendment, to the Constitution
of the United States of America

30. Tips
Do
• Feel good about what you are doing
• Be friendly and respectful
• Create a personal connection
• Respect time and get to the point of the
meeting
• Represent yourself and credentials
• Ask for something
• Be Relevant
• Listen to Answers
• Get to know the staff, they are your
connection to the office
• Follow up
Don’t
• Be put off due to time, staff, other things
• Over state the facts
• Get angry or be disappointed is the
politician doesn’t agree, ask for their
prospective
• Discuss elections and campaign
contributions – discuss policy
• Make demands or threats
• Dance around the issue
• Assume that your audience knows
anything about your issues

31. On-line Advocacy Tools
AIA Advocacy Center – link at
http://www.aia.org
Support at amelis@aia.org or
govaffs@aia.org
Sends quick messages, and help
legislators understand that there is a
constituency for an issue.
Pre-addressed, pre-written, editable
messages

32. Going to the Hill

33. Use Our STRENGTHS

34. Join the Winning Team

35. THANK YOU
Paul T. Mendelsohn
pmendelsohn@aia.org
(202) 626-7388