Process Begins to Develop ASLA's Federal Public Policy Agenda for 2007 and Beyond
Staff is evaluating federal issues with one fundamental question: Why is this issue a priority for ASLA and landscape architects?

The process for refining, narrowing, and finalizing ASLA’s federal public policy agenda has begun in earnest. Although 2007 is months away, developing a strategic agenda takes time and planning. Many organizations are also looking ahead, and Congress and the administration have already begun to prepare to address major policy issues that are sure to be on the agenda next year. For example, the U.S. Department of Agriculture spent much of 2005 hosting listening sessions nationwide concerning the 2007 Farm Bill, and congressional hearings on this subject are being held across the country this summer.

ASLA has a well-developed process for analyzing issues and making decisions about those on which to place the highest priority. The Government Affairs Advisory Committee (GAAC) began this process earlier this month and the Executive Committee followed with a discussion during its summer meeting. The Board of Trustees will provide input during the annual meeting in October. After the board’s discussion, the Executive Committee will be asked to endorse a final set of issues that will form the core of ASLA’s federal policy agenda as Congress convenes in January.

Developing and implementing an agenda are equally challenging. In order to make the most strategic decisions regarding priority issues, government affairs staff, the GAAC, and others are applying a series of filters or, in other words, asking a series of questions designed to answer one fundamental question: Why is this issue a priority for ASLA and landscape architects? Using this approach, we can more systematically evaluate each issue and then make comparisons among them to help determine prioritization. The filters include:

• Federal Nexus—The issue must be one over which the Congress or a federal department or agency has jurisdiction. The focus of this process is on federal policy; there is a separate and equally important process concerning licensure and other state issues.

• Timeliness—There is reason to believe that the issue will be or is likely to be on the congressional or administrative agenda in 2007–2008. Timeliness also concerns ASLA’s ability to quickly respond to new developments.

• Member Relevancy—The issue must be relevant to a broad segment of the ASLA membership. An issue could be relevant because it has an economic impact on members or because it relates to fundamental principles or beliefs held by a significant proportion of members.

• Focused Policy Proposal—The issue should lend itself to crafting a very specific “ask” for any advocacy efforts, including Lobby Day and actions using the online grassroots tool.

• Landscape Architecture Expertise—Landscape architects have specific expertise that will allow the Society and its members to play a leadership role on the issue or otherwise bring technical expertise to bear to influence public policy.

Although much remains to be done over the next several months, we are laying the foundation for the future. By beginning now, ASLA will be prepared to quickly engage when the new Congress convenes in January and to be an even more effective advocate on the issues that matter to the profession and our members.