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IN THE NEWS
ACT 2009 Legislative Agenda

For the last several weeks, ACT's Policy Committee has been intently reviewing the organization's 2009 legislative agenda. Based on member feedback of what issues are most important, we plan to seek the authorization of seven new bills (in addition to passage of active bills on the Hill- those with a record number). The seven bills (by priority topic) are:

BILL TRACKER

Healthy Communities
* Greener- Safer Communities Act- To create a Department of Justice program for municipalities to lower crime and calm traffic through coordinated community policing and urban greening.

Energy and Climate
* Urban Heat Island Mitigation Act- To create a Department of Energy program that municipal parking authorities can use for targeted shade tree plantings in order to mitigate urban heat island effect.

Revitalization & Green Jobs
* Green Jobs Act- To create a Department of Labor program that nonprofit greening organizations can apply for to create actual green-collar jobs (as opposed to gray infrastructure "green" jobs).

* Small Business Economic Beautification Act- To create an Small Business Administration program that small businesses and rental complexes can use to beautify storefronts and mixed-use housing in order to encourage increased shopping and economic stability.

Water Resources
* Urban Stormwater Mitigation Act- To create an Environmental Protection Agency program that developers and municipal planning agencies can utilize to facilitate better stormwater management designs that incorporate trees and green infrastructure.

Green Infrastructure
* Green-lined Communities Act- To create a Department of Transportation program that Department of Public Works agencies can use to create tree-lined shaded streets and sidewalks and thereby save on repair/maintenance costs.

* Living Roadways Act- To create a Federal Highway Administration program for state DOTs to make landscape improvements along major transportation corridors to mitigate highway noise and air pollution, reduce congestion, and create safer roads.