Leading Community Design and Infrastructure In early 2017, ASLA unveiled its infrastructure platform,

“Landscape Architects Leading Community Infrastructure

Design and Development,” which urged policy makers to support

a comprehensive federal infrastructure plan that addresses

fixing our nation’s water management systems, upgrading to

a multimodal transportation network, recognizing public lands

and parks as critical infrastructure, and planning for resilient

communities.

Passing Green Infrastructure Legislation ASLA continues to fight for legislation and regulations that

promote the use of green infrastructure. This year, ASLA worked

with Senator Deb Fischer (NE) to help pass bipartisan legislation,

the Water Infrastructure Flexibility Act (S. 692), that would

promote the use of green infrastructure projects in addressing

stormwater, wastewater, and other water quality issues.

Fighting for Environmental Protections ASLA successfully secured nearly 2,000 signatures from

landscape architects and allied professionals on a letter to

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott

Pruitt urging him to reconsider recent rollbacks on environmental

and climate change policies. On May 15, ASLA Executive Vice

President/CEO Nancy Somerville, Hon. ASLA, hand delivered the

letter to the EPA.

ASLA ADVOCACY 2017

HIGHLIGHTSAdvancing Key Issues for Landscape Architects

ASLA GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS TEAM Roxanne Blackwell, Hon. ASLADirector, Federal Government Affairs

Casey EllingsonGovernment Affairs Coordinator

Elizabeth HebronDirector, State Government Affairs

Queens Plaza in Queens NYC, 2012Design firm: WRTImage credit: Sam Oberter

2014 ASLA General Design Honor AwardShoemaker Green, Andropogon Associates Ltd.Image credit: Barrett Doherty and Andropogon

EVP/CEO Somerville, Hon. ASLA with the ASLA Government Affairs & Public Relations Teams at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, DCImage credit: ASLA

Speaking Up for National Parks and MonumentsThroughout 2017, national park and monument issues were of

paramount concern to landscape architects. ASLA provided

comments to the Department of Interior opposing proposals to

increase entrance fees at 17 national parks, and on maintaining

the boundaries of several national parks and monuments. ASLA

also commented to the Bureau of Land Management, urging the

agency to maintain the current moratorium on offshore oil and

gas drilling leases.

Shattering Grassroots RecordsASLA’s grassroots efforts had another record-breaking year in 2017, sending

more than 15,000 messages to state and federal policy makers on issues

important to the profession—up from 12,538 messages in 2016. Advocates

were particularly active on environmental, climate change, national parks, and

licensure issues. ASLA Advocacy continues to grow its Twitter following—

currently at 1,200.

Scoring a Touchdown in Wisconsin – ASLA Advocacy Summit In September, 30 chapters convened in Milwaukee for the 2017

Advocacy Summit. The football-themed summit focused on

licensure threats and licensure advocacy. Learning sessions

showcased recent chapter licensure battles and victories,

best practices for using the Landscape Architecture Licensure

Handbook, and working with a lobbyist. Participants were also

involved in an advocacy site tour that included Wisconsin State

Senator LaTonya Johnson and staff from U.S. Senator Ron

Johnson’s office.

Defending Licensure Across the CountryThe year 2017 brought an unprecedented number of direct attacks and threats

to occupational licensure as governors and state policy makers looked to reduce

regulation and simplify business practices. A total of 17 states faced some form

of licensing threat. However, thanks to the advocacy and lobbying efforts of ASLA

chapters, with strong support from ASLA national, at the end of 2017 all states and

the District of Columbia continue to license landscape architects. Additionally, in 2017

Alaska and Colorado successfully completed sunset reviews.

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2017 ASLA Advocacy Summit in Milwaukee, WIImage credit: ASLA

Grand-Staircase Escalante National Monument in Utah