Issues & AdvocacyIssues & Advocacy

November 4, 2010

Contact | Federal Relations | State Relations | Communities by Design | Local Relations | Advocacy365

In this issue:

• 2010 Election Presents Challenges, Opportunities for Architects

• State Election Update: Tuesday’s “wave election” seen down-ballot

• Voters Decide 160 Ballot Initiatives

• ArchiPAC Supports more than 60 Federal Candidates; AIA Members Participate in the Process

• Update on AIA Members Running for Local and State Elected Office

• Other Advocacy News, Updates, and Reminders

The tumultuous 2010 midterm election campaign came to an earth-shaking climax on Tuesday as Republicans regained control of the U.S. House for the first time since 2006 and made major gains in the U.S. Senate.

As of press time, Republicans had captured 60 House seats from Democrats, giving them a 239-196 majority and making current Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) the likely next Speaker of the House. The GOP captured seats from freshman Democrats and veteran lawmakers alike, including from three long-serving Democratic committee chairmen. In the Senate, Harry Reid (D-NV) fended off a strong challenge from Tea Party-backed Sharron Angle (R) and will likely return as Majority Leader, but of a much smaller Democratic majority.

Click on the map to view a larger image:

NOTE: As of press time, the races in Washington and Alaska were still too close to call.

The results, coupled with major changes in state houses and city halls across the nation, will no doubt change the policymaking agenda in 2011. What is less clear is how those changes will affect architects and the built environment. Although the dust is still settling on election 2010, there are a few things that are clear:

- Republicans and Democrats need to work together. Republicans were able to mostly play opposition over the last two years, out of power in both the White House and the Capitol. Now that they control the House and have a larger voice in the Senate, voters will hold them and Democrats equally accountable if gridlock ensures.


- But the loss of centrists in both parties will make that difficult. Democratic moderates, including those in the centrist Blue Dog Coalition, lost big on Tuesday, leaving the Democratic House caucus more liberal than before. That, coupled with a resurgent conservative wing of the Republican Party fueled by the Tea Parties, means that the ability to find common ground will be in short supply.


- The days of big spending are over (for now). Republicans, backed by the Tea Party movement, have pledged to cut government spending. This means that new programs on housing, energy, health care and so on are not likely to advance in the next Congress, at least in the House.


- Taxes will be cut. In a similar vein, the chances of large tax cuts, particularly as a way to spur the economy and create jobs, are much greater now. Expect that the Bush 2001 and 2003 tax cuts will be extended for all income levels, and not just the middle class.


- Oversight will increase. Several presumptive Republican House committee chairmen, including Oversight and Government Reform Chair-designate Darrel Issa (R-CA) and Energy and Commerce Chair-designate Fred Upton (R-MI), have pledged to hold aggressive oversight hearings into Obama administration programs, particularly those from the 2009 stimulus. Expect lots of top Obama officials in the hot seat on Capitol Hill.

In an effort to begin building relationships and lay the groundwork for AIA advocacy efforts in 2011, George H. Miller, FAIA, sent a congratulatory letter yesterday to all newly elected and re-elected members of Congress (state and local components wishing to build send out a similar letter to governors and state legislators should visit the Advocacy365 website for samples).

AIA Champions Survive (For the Most Part)

Lawmakers who have backed AIA initiatives and policies for the most part did well on election night. Both chairs of the Congressional High Performance Building Caucus, Judy Biggert (R-IL) and Russ Carnahan (D-MO), won re-election. On the Republican side, lawmakers who have supported tax incentives for green buildings, including Rep. Dave Reichert (R-WA), won, as did those who have worked with the AIA to expand access to credit, such as Reps. Scott Garrett (R-NJ) and Mike Coffman (R-CO).

On the Democratic side, in addition to Rep. Carnahan, lawmakers who have worked on design-related policies by and large survived the Republican onslaught. Rep. Earl Blumenauer, Hon. AIA (D-OR), the House’s top livability champion, easily won re-election. Reps. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) – author of the GREEN Act for green affordable housing and the Livable Communities Act – and Allyson Schwartz (D-PA), a leader on green buildings and historic preservation, both won their races.

On the Senate side, Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), who as chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee addresses green issues and transportation policy, fended off a challenge from Carly Fiorina (R). Meanwhile, the election saw the return to Washington of Rob Portman (R-OH), who won the Ohio Senate seat vacated by retiring Sen. George Voinovich. While a member of the House in the early ‘00s, Portman authored the AIA-backed Community Restoration and Revitalization Act that promotes historic preservation.

The Agenda in the Committees

The biggest changes will likely be in House Committees, where Republicans will take the helm for the first time in four years. This will have major impacts on policies on which the AIA and its allies advocate:

Economy. Clearly the economy and unemployment were top issues for 2010 voters, and the new Republican House majority will need to show progress on the issue. Don’t expect any more large stimulus bills, which Republicans oppose. But efforts to expand access to financing for design and construction projects may have traction in a GOP-led House. Incoming House Financial Services Committee Chairman Spencer Bachus (R-AL) will likely spend the first months of the new session investigating the TARP bailout program and the Federal Reserve’s actions on the economy, but pressure on Republicans to act on the economy will spur them to take action.

Sustainability. Comprehensive climate change legislation, like the Waxman-Markey cap-and-trade bill that passed the House in 2009, is dead for now. It is unlikely that House Republicans will want to advance new spending programs on sustainability, such as the cash-for-caulkers retrofit bills, but will want to block the EPA from implementing regulations on greenhouse gas emissions. Incoming House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Fred Upton (R-MI) will likely hold hearings in early 2011 to investigate stimulus spending at the Department of Energy, with a special focus on how weatherization dollars were spent. But top Republicans have told the AIA they do support tax incentives for energy efficiency, and it is possible that the House Ways and Means Committee will act on such measures. On the Senate side, the agenda for the Energy and Natural Resources Committee in 2011 rests largely in the hands of the Alaska Division of Elections, which is now sorting through thousands of write-in ballots to determine whether Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R), currently ranking Republican on the Committee, managed to defeat Republican nominee Joe Miller. Murkowski supported energy efficiency legislation approved by the Committee in 2009. If she loses, Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) would take over as top Republican.

Livable Communities. The livable community agenda took two major hits this year: first, Senate Banking Committee Chairman and Livable Communities Act author Christopher Dodd (D-CT) announced his retirement, leaving the fate of the bill uncertain. Second, House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Jim Oberstar (D-OH) lost his re-election bid. Oberstar, a longtime champion of mass transit and community planning, authored a transportation bill in 2009 that created an Office of Livability at the U.S. Department of Transportation. Now, all that is up in the air; Republicans have been less supportive of livable community legislation, concerned that it would represent a federal intrusion onto state and local planning. To the extent that backers of livable communities can make the case that federal support does not supersede local prerogatives and that the issue is not merely resonant in urban areas, progress may be possible. Although the Obama administration will no doubt continue its Partnership for Livable Communities between HUD, DOT and the EPA, expect less funding – and more scrutiny – of the program from a Republican House.

Infrastructure. The change in parties in the House might not mean a large change in the effort to invest in the country’s infrastructure, as incoming House Transportation Committee Chair John Mica (R-FL) has worked with Democrats in the past to advance transportation funding. However, the question of paying for infrastructure investments is still unresolved, as efforts to increase the gas tax will likely go nowhere in the House. Mica has told the AIA he backs a National Infrastructure Bank that could finance infrastructure investments, and public-private partnerships may also have some support. On the Senate side, Environment and Public Works Chair Boxer will have to contend with an increased Republican contingent that also will be less willing to increase spending or taxes to fund transportation.

Tax Policy. Following the likely extension of the Bush 2001 and 2003 tax cuts, the tax-writing committees will have their hands full dealing with expiring tax incentives and calls for comprehensive tax reform. The chances of advancing tax incentives for green buildings and historic preservation in the House Ways and Means Committee under new Chairman Dave Camp (R-MI) appear to be good. In addition, efforts to repeal burdensome tax requirements on small businesses, such as the 1099 reporting requirement enacted as part of the health care law, should pick up steam in 2011. It also would appear that efforts to increase payroll taxes on architecture and other professional services S corporations will not see the light of day in the next Congress, although the push for revenue offsets for the Bush tax cuts and other tax incentives may prompt lawmakers to look for similar “loophole closers.”

Housing. The first order of business for the new Congress on housing policy will likely be addressing the fate of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Although there may be support for expanding tax incentives for housing, the outlook for additional funding for HUD and its programs will be bleak.

Government procurement. Although the Brooks Act qualifications based selection law has survived Republican and Democratic Congresses alike, the laser-like focus of many new lawmakers on reducing spending may lead to increased attention on procurement laws that, to the uninitiated at least, appear to cost more money. Policies like QBS, which require that A/E services be procured based on qualifications and not lowest price, may fall under the spotlight, forcing QBS backers to press the case that it saves money in the long run. It also is likely that spending for the General Services Administration and other agencies that procure A/E services, will be cut back in an effort to reduce spending. Although the GSA has a reported $10 billion backlog in design and construction work, the new Republican majority may be reluctant to increase spending on government buildings.

GOP gains in state legislatures will have major impacts in coming elections

Although many election watchers were focused on finding out if the Republicans would take the U.S. House or the Senate, the outcomes of many statewide elections are going to have a dramatic impact on policy, too. On Tuesday, 37 states held gubernatorial elections, while 80 percent of state legislative seats were up for election. In all statewide elections, the Republicans made dramatic gains.

Of the 37 gubernatorial races, new governors were expected in at least 24 states due to term limits, retirements, defeats in early primaries, or resignations. Currently, three governor races are too close to call (Connecticut, Illinois, and Minnesota). Not counting those seats still undecided, after Tuesday, 28 states will have Republican governors; 18 Democrats; and one independent governor. Of the 13 incumbents running on Tuesday, 11 held on to their seats: Alaska (R), Arkansas (D), Arizona (R), Idaho (R), Illinois (D), Maryland (D), Massachusetts (D), Nebraska (R), New Hampshire (D), Texas (R), and Utah (R). The incumbent Democrat governors in Iowa and Ohio lost their bids, giving two more governor seats to Republicans.

Click on the map to view a larger image:

NOTE: As of press time, Connecticut, Illinois, and Minnesota were still too close to call.

In state legislatures, the trend continued. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), Republican state legislative candidates gained a net of more than 500 seats nationwide. In fact, the GOP hasn’t held this many seats since 1928.

Prior to Tuesday night, the Democratic Party controlled 27 state legislatures, Republicans held 14, and eight were split (the Nebraska unicameral legislature being non-partisan). In the wake of the GOP “wave” on Tuesday, the Republicans took total control of an additional 26 state houses; Democrats 15; and five are split. The outcomes in New York, Washington, and Oregon still remain to be determined.

In upcoming legislative sessions (most of which will commence in January), lawmakers new and old will be taking up a variety of issues – most notably, the management of declining state budgets. Fiscal concerns have proved troublesome for many AIA state component advocacy efforts in the last few years and challenges of this type may surface again. As states look for ways to generate new revenue, AIA chapters may face measures that would impact architectural practices, such as attempts to implement taxes on professional services; assaults on QBS laws; efforts to implement stock school plans; and proposals to decrease funding for state licensing bodies. AIA National has developed many resources related to these topics and stands ready to assist components if the need arises.

In addition, many state legislatures will have to approve redistricting plans for both Congressional and state legislative districts, which could, potentially, foreshadow partisan outcomes of elections for the next decade.

For assistance in sending a welcome letter to newly elected or reelected governors and legislators, visit the AIA Advocacy365 website.

It wasn't just candidates on the November 2 ballot. Thirty-six of the 50 states saw ballot measures – 160 in total – voted upon by their respective electorates. Several of these are worth noting as far as their potential – or, in some cases, direct – impact on architectural practice.

(Please note that a checkmark indicates that the initiative has passed, whereas a red “X” indicates it failed.)

Energy and Sustainability

• California Proposition 23 (Suspends implementation of air pollution control law [AB 32] requiring major sources of emissions to report and reduce greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming, until employment drops to 5.5 percent or less for full year):
• Georgia Constitutional Amendment 4 (Allows the State to execute multiyear contracts for projects to improve energy efficiency and conservation.):
• Washington Referendum Bill 52 (This measure would authorize bonds to finance construction and repair projects increasing energy efficiency in public schools and higher education buildings, and continue the sales tax on bottled water otherwise expiring in 2013.):

Construction and Design

• Alaska Bonding Proposition A (Shall the State of Alaska unconditionally guarantee as a general obligation of the state the payment of principal and interest on revenue bonds of the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation issued in the principal amount of not more than $600 million for the purpose of purchasing mortgages made for residences for qualifying veterans, as defined by law?):
• Alaska Bonding Proposition B (Shall the State of Alaska issue its general obligation bonds in the principal amount of not more than $397.2 million for the purpose of design and construction of library, education and educational research facilities?):
• Florida Amendment 4 (Establishes that before a local government may adopt a new comprehensive land use plan, or amend a comprehensive land use plan, the proposed plan or amendment shall be subject to vote of the electors of the local government by referendum, following preparation by the local planning agency, consideration by the governing body and notice. Provides definitions.):
• Georgia Constitutional Amendment 3 (Allows the State to execute multiyear contracts for long-term transportation projects.):
• Massachusetts Question 2 (This proposed law would repeal an existing state law that allows a qualified organization wishing to build government-subsidized housing that includes low- or moderate-income units to apply for a single comprehensive permit from a city or town's zoning board of appeals [ZBA], instead of separate permits from each local agency or official having jurisdiction over any aspect of the proposed housing. The repeal would take effect on January 1, 2011, but would not stop or otherwise affect any proposed housing that had already received both a comprehensive permit and a building permit for at least one unit.):
• Massachusetts Question 3 (This proposed law would reduce the state sales and use tax rates [which were 6.25 percent as of September 2009] to three percent as of Jan. 1, 2011. It would make the same reduction in the rate used to determine the amount to be deposited with the state Commissioner of Revenue by non-resident building contractors as security for the payment of sales and use tax on tangible personal property used in carrying out their contracts. The proposed law provides that if the three-percent rates would not produce enough revenues to satisfy any lawful pledge of sales and use tax revenues in connection with any bond, note, or other contractual obligation, then the rates would instead be reduced to the lowest level allowed by law.):

Taxes and Finances

• Colorado Amendment 60 (Shall there be an amendment to the Colorado constitution concerning government charges on property, and, in connection therewith, allowing petitions in all districts for elections to lower property taxes; specifying requirements for property tax elections; requiring enterprises and authorities to pay property taxes but offsetting the revenues with lower tax rates; prohibiting enterprises and unelected boards from levying fees or taxes on property; setting expiration dates for certain tax rate and revenue increases; requiring school districts to reduce property tax rates and replacing the revenue with state aid; and eliminating property taxes that exceed the dollar amount included in an approved ballot question, that exceed state property tax laws, policies, and limits existing in 1992 that have been violated, changed, or weakened without state voter approval, or that were not approved by voters without certain ballot language?):
• Colorado Amendment 61 (Shall there be an amendment to the Colorado constitution concerning limitations on government borrowing, and, in connection therewith, prohibiting future borrowing in any form by state government; requiring voter approval of future borrowing by local governmental entities; limiting the form, term, and amount of total borrowing by each local governmental entity; directing all current borrowing to be paid; and reducing tax rates after certain borrowing is fully repaid?):
• Washington Initiative 1053 (This measure would restate the existing statutory requirement that any action or combination of actions by the legislature that raises taxes must be approved by a two-thirds vote in both houses of the legislature or approved in a referendum to the people, and it would restate the existing statutory definition of "raises taxes." It would also restate that new or increased fees must be approved by a majority vote in both houses of the legislature.):
• Washington Initiative 1098 (This measure would establish a tax on "adjusted gross income" [as determined under the federal internal revenue code] above $200,000 for individuals and $400,000 for married couples or domestic partners filing jointly; reduce the limit on statewide property taxes by 20 percent; and increase the business and occupation tax credit to $4,800. The tax revenues would replace revenues lost from the reduced levy and increased credit; remaining revenues would be directed to education and health services.):

Small Business

• Washington Initiative 1082 (This measure would permit certification of private insurers as industrial insurance insurers, and authorize employers to purchase state-mandated industrial insurance coverage through an "industrial insurance insurer" beginning July 1, 2012. It would establish a joint legislative task force to propose legislation conforming current statutes to this measure's provisions, and would direct the legislature to enact such supplemental conforming legislation as necessary by March 1, 2012. It would also eliminate the worker-paid share of medical-benefit premiums.):

ArchiPAC, the AIA’s only federal political action committee, is the mechanism for architects to show their support for candidates for federal office that work on issues important to the profession and the AIA. During the 2009-2010 election cycle, which covered the time period between the 2008 election through Tuesday’s mid-term elections, AIA members got more involved than ever before by contributing to ArchiPAC , making recommendations for which candidates the PAC supported, and personally delivering PAC checks.

In total, ArchiPAC made $214,250 in contributions to federal candidates and national political parties, one of our biggest contribution cycles to-date. Contributions are made from a pool of money funded solely by the voluntary donations of AIA members and staff. AIA member dues do not go to ArchiPAC, as federal law prohibits the AIA from making contributions to political candidates. The contributions are made in a variety ways: at candidate events attended by AIA members in the congressional districts, by component requests for contributions to campaigns, or at Washington fundraising events attended by the AIA federal relations staff. This cycle, more than 24 contributions were delivered personally to candidates by AIA members back in the district. Member delivery is a great way for members to get involved in the process and to begin building personal relationships with legislators.

The ArchiPAC Steering Committee, a geographically and politically diverse group of AIA Board members, makes the final decision on which candidates to support. Of the 60 candidates supported this cycle, more than 20 contributions originated from member or component suggestions (for a full list of candidates that received ArchiPAC funds, click here). The Steering Committee works with AIA National staff to find a relative balance among the party committees, as ArchiPAC is a nonpartisan organization.

The ArchiPAC distribution strategy takes into account the current leadership in Congress, what future leadership may look like, and which incumbents championed key legislation impacting architects. Based on the candidates for the House and Senate in 2010 – including their party, leadership level, and their past history working with the AIA –ArchiPAC contributions were as follows:

In addition to trying to achieve a nonpartisan balance, ArchiPAC also looks to the possible agenda for the next congressional session. As such, before any contributions are made, the likely committee positions of the candidate (if an incumbent) and the likelihood that the candidate can win the race are taken into account. In the 2009-2010 election cycle, 75 percent of the candidates that ArchiPAC supported won their respective elections on November 2. For these candidates, ArchiPAC spent 87.5 percent of its money, or $105,250. (Of the remaining 25 percent of candidates, 16 percent lost their bids, three candidates withdrew from the race, and one race, for Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) is still undecided).

It is no secret that Democrats lost big in this election. And just like many of our Republican champions in 2008, some of our Democratic champions failed to win their race this year. In total, 87.5 percent of ArchiPAC’s money went to winning campaigns. So where did the chips fall? Here is the breakdown of our winners and losers (to see which individual ArchiPAC-supported candidates won or lost, click here):

Other: Three ArchiPAC-supported candidates withdrew from the race (Sen. Ken Salazar (D-CO) joined the Obama administration, Rep. Vernon Ehlers (R-MI) retired, and Dennis Findley, AIA, (D-VA) withdrew for personal reasons). One race, for Washington state’s Senate seat, involving Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), is still undecided.

The majority of ArchiPAC’s contributions were made to House candidates, as many of the AIA’s champions in Congress on issues important to architects, to their communities, and to the Institute as a whole serve in that chamber. This is in part due to the longstanding relationship many Congressmen have with local and state AIA chapters from their time holding local or statewide elected positions. In addition, there are 435 House races to choose from, while only one-third of the Senate’s 100 seats are up each election. Over 77 percent of contributions made by ArchiPAC in this election cycle were to candidates for the House of Representatives.

“First and foremost, we support our champions. There is absolutely no substitute for a member of Congress to be one of the AIA’s Champions.  ArchiPAC did its job--supporting candidates important to our members who have longstanding relationships with architects at the local, state, and federal level,” said Don Brown, AIA, 2010 ArchiPAC Chairman. Of AIA member involvement this cycle, Brown added, “When AIA members engage in the process, we create a real impact and results.  Thank you to all that supported this effort during this election.”

For more information on ArchiPAC, how to get involved, and more data on this election, visit the ArchiPAC website. For specific questions about ArchiPAC or about the information presented here, contact Hannah Wesolowski, manager of Political Programs.

Unofficial results show that three AIA members won election to their state legislature for the first time on Tuesday night. Massachusetts Democrat Chris Walsh, AIA, and Republicans Jim Nielson, AIA, of Utah, and Lonnie Laffen, AIA, of North Dakota will join five other AIA members currently serving in a state legislature. Republicans Matt Dean, AIA, of Minnesota; Stephen Sandstorm, AIA, of Utah; and Charles VanZant, AIA, of Florida won reelection, while Republicans Chris Widener, FAIA, of Ohio and Cheri Gerou, AIA, of Colorado were not on the ballot this year. State Senator Sam Joe Queen, AIA, a Democrat serving in the North Carolina Senate since 2002, did not win reelection.

It also appears that Tom Crews, AIA, will be headed into a run-off in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina's mayoral race; this election will take place November 16. In addition, Ned Apigian, AIA, won a seat on the Dearborn Heights (Michigan) City Council.

To learn more about architects who ran for office this fall, visit the Architects in Action website. The Angle will publish an updated list of AIA members who won their election bids in its November 18 issue. If you are aware of any AIA members who may have won a local or state election, please email the AIA government relations team.

DOE Moves to Reduce Fossil Fuel Consumption in Federal Buildings

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has issued proposed rules to get federal agencies to comply with energy legislation advanced by the AIA. The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA) requires DOE to “establish revised energy efficiency performance standards for the construction of all new Federal buildings.” These standards were to include specific percentage reductions offered on a sliding scale until a 100-percent reduction is met in the year 2030.

The AIA was a primary advocate for this provision, leading a coalition to support the bill and calling on its members to write their representatives in Washington. In addition, R.K. Stewart, FAIA, the AIA's president at the time, testified in support of the bill. EISA was a major advancement in furthering the AIA’s commitment to carbon neutrality, and this proposed rulemaking will bring the federal government closer to reaching that goal.

This proposed rule will require all building and major renovations (costing at least $2.5 million) to reduce fossil fuel-generated energy consumption by 55 percent beginning in fiscal year 2010; 65 percent beginning in fiscal year 2015; 80 percent beginning in fiscal year 2020; 90 percent beginning in fiscal year 2025; and 100 percent beginning in fiscal year 2030. The baseline is calculated from similar building types from fiscal year 2003 (as measured by Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS) or Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS) data from the Energy Information Agency, and applies to buildings in which the design phase begins at least one year after the final rule is issued. At present, DOE is calculating baselines that accommodate different climate zones. The rulemaking also provides a procedure for agencies to request an adjustment if the standard is too low for the functional needs of the building.

The AIA is developing a response to this rule. For more information, see the notice of proposed rulemaking here. DOE will accept written comments until December 14 and will hold an open public meeting November 12.

Code Officials Meet, Adopt AIA-Backed Energy-Reduction Proposal

Last week in Charlotte, members of the International Code Council (ICC) approved a series of revisions to the 2012 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) that represent the largest single-step efficiency increase in the history of the code. The changes mean that new and renovated commercial buildings constructed in jurisdictions that follow IECC 2012 will use 30 percent less energy than those built to current standards.

The improvements were part of a comprehensive proposal submitted jointly by the AIA, New Buildings Institute (NBI), and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) that addresses measures such as cooling, lighting, quality assurance and renewable energy standards. Several other key proposals that contribute to the savings were approved independently. Furthermore, IECC 2012 contains many important, first-ever technical features, including a new section on commissioning; pathways to use daylighting; and options for the use of on-site renewable energy.

Don Brown, AIA, (center) met with the ICC board during the Council's Annual Meeting. Also pictured (from left): Dominic Sims, ICC's chief operating officer; Ravi Shah, Assoc. AIA, CBO; Jimmy Brothers, ICC president; and Rick Weiland, ICC's chief executive officer.

The energy savings in IECC 2012 (to be published in April 2011 and, thereafter, will be available for adoption by states and local jurisdictions) meet national calls from Congress, the Secretary of Energy, and industry leaders to improve the efficiency of commercial buildings by 30 percent. In addition, IECC 2012 will serve as the baseline standard for the International Green Construction Code (IGCC) currently under development.

To read the joint AIA-NBI press release, click here. For additional information regarding the IECC, please contact Jessyca Henderson, AIA, director, Sustainability Advocacy.

Member Input Requested: AIA Policy on Project Delivery

The AIA issues public policies and position statements as statements of belief to policy-makers, the public, and the construction industry on issues of public policy affecting the membership, the profession of architecture, or the Institute.

To that end, Position Statement 26 (“Project Delivery”) is being submitted to leadership, members, and key stakeholder groups for consideration and comment. Upon conclusion of the public comment period (November 12), staff will develop a discussion draft of all submitted comments. The Board Advocacy Committee will review the comments prior to submission to the full Board for consideration and final adoption during the December 2010 Board meeting.

To review, vote, and/or comment on Position Statement 26 (“Project Delivery”), click here. The deadline for voting and comments is November 12.

The Angle Archive:

October 21, 2010
October 7, 2010
September 23, 2010
September 9, 2010
August 12, 2010 – Mid Year Report
July 29, 2010
July 15, 2010
July 1, 2010
June 17, 2010
June 3, 2010
May 20, 2010
May 6, 2010
April 22, 2010
April 8, 2010
March 25, 2010
March 11, 2010

The Angle is published by the AIA Government and Community Relations Department, 1735 New York Ave., NW, Washington, DC, 20006. To contact The Angle, send an email to govaffs@aia.org.