Summary: Following weeks of AIA-member effort to include community-building elements into the legislation intended to revive the U.S. economy, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act negotiated during the House and Senate conference February 10-12 includes most of the elements for which the AIA fought in its Rebuild and Renew effort, including:

• $53 billion to states and school districts for a broad range of activities; school modernization is one of the allowed uses. For states, funds could be used for both K-12 and higher ed facilities
• $8.4 billion for mass transit, and $8 billion for high-speed rail
• $4.5 billion for greening federal buildings
• Funds Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (amount not clear)
• $5 billion for home weatherization (between House and Senate numbers)
• $6.3 billion for increasing energy efficiency in federally assisted housing programs and $2 billion to help communities purchase and rehab foreclosed properties
• Delays for one year on the 3% withholding on federal contracts.

As Congress finalizes its action, and the AIA Board Advocacy Committee studies the implications for AIA members, the AIA Federal Government Advocacy team will be updating the Rebuild and Renew page on AIA.org. To see a timeline of the AIA activities to date and join in the discussion, go to the AIA Angle blog site.