Hi COTE Community:
Thanks to all of you who helped promote your firms' names to the recent letter highlighting the importance of EPA programs to architects. The letter received 775 firm signatures and has been delivered to EPA Administrator Pruitt as well as Members of House and Senate Energy Committees on Capitol Hill. Moving forward, it will continue to serve as a strategic outreach tool to use in advocating with policymakers for architects' concerns.
Now, the design industry must also stand up for vital programs at the Department of Energy which may also face the chopping block. Architects rely on many DOE programs, resources, and research to do their jobs effectively. We need to educate key officials about the value of the programs they are now tasked with managing. Decisions about the futures of these vital programs will be made over the months ahead. Once again, we must make a business case for retaining DOE programs that enable architects to design high performing buildings.
AIA COTE Advocacy has developed a sign-on letter for design firms to show their support for DOE programs. Please use this note to promote firm signatures as well as sign on for yourself. Click here to add your firm to this letter today!
AIA COTE Advocacy is also putting on a webinar on May 9 at 2PM EST with the AIA Federal Relations leaders. We will share the longer-term advocacy strategy so we can all better understand the game plan in preserving vital programs in the Federal budget. If you're wondering how what we're doing is making a difference, don't miss this webinar. Sign up for the webinar here and please pass on to others.
Thanks
Mary Ann
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Mary Ann Lazarus FAIA
2017 COTE Advisory Group Chair
Principal MALeco, LLC
Saint Louis MO
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