April 12, 2022

AIA New Jersey Members To Participate in 2022 Lobby Day

AIA New Jersey leaders John Cwikla, AIA; Judy Donnelly, AIA; Michael Hanrahan, AIA; Stacey Kliesch, AIA; Ryan Moran, AIA; and Josh Zinder, AIA, will be representing AIA New Jersey on April 14th in meetings with Congressman Josh Gottheimer and Senator Robert Menendez. 

Congressman Gottheimer represents New Jersey’s Fifth Congressional District in the northernmost part of the state, which includes parts of Bergen, Passaic, Sussex, and Warren counties. He was first sworn in on January 3, 2017, and is now in his third term in office.

In Congress, Josh serves on two committees, including the House Financial Services Committee, where he is a member of the National Security, International Development and Monetary Policy Subcommittee and the Investor Protection, Entrepreneurship, and Capital Markets Subcommittee. Josh also serves on the House Homeland Security Committee, where he is a member of the Intelligence and Counterterrorism Subcommittee and the Transportation and Maritime Security Subcommittee.

AIA Lobby Day

AIA Lobby Day provides architect members with a platform to directly advocate in support of legislation impacting the profession before federal Members of Congress and Congressional staff. For Lobby Day 2022, New Jersey meetings will be virtual. 

Which legislation will AIA members support during Lobby Day 2022?

We are highlighting two bipartisan pieces of legislation:

• H.R. 5291, the Democracy In Design Act, would ensure that communities across the country maintain a voice in the design of federal buildings consistent with their preferences, topographies, and design traditions.
• H.R. 3198/S. 1614, the Yes In My Backyard (YIMBY) Act, which addresses systemic inequities that continue to blight America’s housing and zoning policies. The YIMBY Act is a common-sense approach to require more transparency from communities that receive federal funding through the Community Development Block Grant. By requiring regular and standardized reporting from local jurisdictions on their land use policies, we can promote inclusive zoning and increase affordable housing supply.

Why does housing inequity matter to architects?

Reflected in both the AIA’s Policy Platform and Strategic Plan, AIA is unwaveringly committed to equity and confronting the legacy of discriminatory zoning and housing policies on communities, including Black, Indigenous and other populations who have been historically marginalized by deleterious economic disinvestment.

Why does design freedom matter to architects?

There is no design style that is inherently more, or less, valuable than any other. AIA stands firmly against any federal mandate on architectural design.

How can AIA members contribute to the campaign if they are not in meetings?

AIA members can share their support for the Democracy In Design Act with their Members of Congress by signing AIA’s online petition. AIA members are invited to support citizen architect Emily Roush-Elliott, AIA by tuning into the Up for Growth virtual YIMBY Act panel on which she will champion the efforts of the Housing and Community Development (HCD) Knowledge Community (link to the panel is forthcoming). AIA members can also tune in live to watch the kick-off event for 2022 Lobby Day, with remarks from 2022 AIA President Dan Hart, FAIA, and a special message from Congresswoman Dina Titus (D-NV) and Senator Todd Young (R-IN). The kick-off starts at 12:30pm ET, April 13 (link to the event is forthcoming).

Read more about AIA Lobby Day HERE.

By Stacey Ruhle Kliesch, AIA, AIA NJ Advocacy Consultant | Posted in Legislative & Government Affairs | Tagged: #GovernmentAffairs, #JohnCwiklaAIA, #JoshGottheimer, #JoshuaZinderAIA, #JudyADonnellyAIA, #LandGA, #LegislativeAffairs, #LobbyDay, #RyanMoranAIA, #StaceyKlieschAIA, #StaceyRuhleKlieschAIA, Congress | Comments (0)