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The AIA's "Win-Win" Agenda for a Better Quality of Life for All Americans

Congressional Issue Agenda

The American Institute of Architects strongly supports the following local, state, and federal governmental policies and legislative initiatives.

Sustainable, secure, efficient design

Foster public policies that sustain natural resources and minimize the impact of the built environment on the natural environment.
Encourage comprehensive community planning, transportation- system design, water conservation, and the construction of high performance green buildings.
Use energy-efficient design to lower taxpayer maintenance costs and save natural resources, including water conservation.
Include well-designed security features for schools, hospitals, offices, airports, civic spaces, and other public structures.
Use project delivery systems for public structures that respect the role of licensed architects as the key design professionals.

Safe, healthy, and convenient communities that are designed to make people's lives easier

Ensure quality design values in the development of neighborhoods and public spaces.
Recognize the vital role of education and school facilities in the life of communities.
Recognize the essential collaborative role of licensed architects and their design knowledge in community and land-use planning.

Protection of public health and safety in the built environment

Ensure clear, certain, and consistent building codes and standards.
Use qualifications-based selection of architects and engineers in public procurement.
Maintain high standards in the architectural licensure process to ensure well-designed, safe, healthy buildings.
Design buildings that meet the needs of people with disabilities.
Ensure that only licensed architects practice architecture.

Construction of quality, affordable housing

Use tax credits and other means to encourage affordable housing.
Include affordable housing in sustainable community planning and renewal, especially in older and historic buildings.

Historic preservation and cultural enhancement

Continue the 10 percent and 20 percent historic rehabilitation tax credits.
Extend historic rehabilitation tax credits to housing.

Economic development and job creation

Enact fair civil liability laws that minimize lawsuit abuse.
Renew our cities and stimulate job growth through the safe, well-planned, sustainable development of brownfields.
Eliminate unnecessary time delays in the construction permitting process that increase project costs, diminish the tax base, and jeopardize job creation.
Support America's small businesses through fair tax policies, affordable health insurance, and elimination of unnecessary governmental red tape.

AIA GOVERNMENT ADVOCACY: ARCHITECTS WORK TO MAKE AMERICA WORK.