Congress considered two topics of importance to architects June 28, with the House of Representatives committee hearings in the morning on brownfields development and in the afternoon on the TRAC Act, which would block private architecture firms from doing federal design work. The AIA national component carried their message to both hearings—yes to brownfields; no to TRAC.

In support of legislation that would reduce the risk of liability and increase incentives for those developing brownfields—former industrial sites that may contain hazardous wastes—the AIA created a booklet on brownfields development successes, "The New Market Frontier: Unlocking Community Capitalism Through Brownfields Redevelopment."

AIA Government Affairs staff distributed the booklet at the morning hearing of the House Energy and Commerce Committee Subcommittee on the Environment and Hazardous Materials. The subcommittee is working to develop legislation to make development of possibly contaminated sites less of a risk for developers; create financial incentives for communities to convert brownfields sites, which often are in prime locations; and address concerns states have about their obligations to clean up polluted land.

On TRAC
In the afternoon, the House Government Reform Technology and Procurement Policy Subcommittee held hearings on the TRAC Act. The AIA alerted members in the past month to call, write, fax, and email their congressional representatives to oppose what the AIA leadership considers bad public policy. In response, members have been vocal with their congressional representatives. From New York to Texas, the AIA Government Affairs staff has been collecting stories of how members of Congress are receiving and acting on letters from AIA members pointing out the damage the TRAC Act would bring about.

"The government frequently depends upon private marketplace services because they result in cost savings, increased public trust, and quality service," the AIA stated for the public record. "[W]e do not need or deserve more government. What we need is innovative and more productive government."

Copyright 2001 The American Institute of Architects. All rights reserved.