Public Policy

While "going green" has long been associated with protecting the environment, we believe it should be even more relevant to people's every day lives. Clean, sustainable, and livable communities go hand-in-hand with economic growth. Urban forestry is an innovative ways to go green and make investments that will ultimately save dollars and resources. For many cities and communities green infrastructure is integral to addressing short- and long-term economic challenges.

These efforts come in many forms such as shading buildings for energy efficiency, planning how loss of green infrastructure will affect stormwater, revitalizing parks and public spaces, landscaping neighborhood gateways and key corridors, constructing green roofs, and creating safe and healthy places where kids play. Collectively, these green infrastructure investments make neighborhoods healthier by improving air quality and lowering surface temperatures, increasing property values and tax bases, and helping municipalities effectively manage stormwater runoff.

One of ACT's four goals is to shape better public policy that protects, enhances, and sustains trees for the benefit of people and communities. As such, ACT engages on the following issues:

• Energy, Climate, and Water
• Healthy Communities
• Revitalization & Green Jobs
• Transportation & Infrastructure

To find out more about how you can help, please contact Jared Liu, Director of Programs.

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Washington, DC (March 13, 2012)- Several Alliance for Community Trees members participated in last week's White House Conference on Conservation, an event that brought together 500 people from across the nation to advance the America's Great Outdoors agenda.

College Park, MD (September 13, 2011)- National Transportation Enhancements funding is on the chopping block. That is the 10% of all highway projects dedicated to landscaping, trails, historic projects, art and other amenities that go beyond just building roads.

Washington, DC (June 3, 2011)- The Alliance for Community Trees strongly supports the Energy Conservation Through Trees Act introduced yesterday by Rep. Doris Matsui. This legislation, H.R. 2095, would support programs run by electric utilities that use targeted planting of shade trees in order to reduce residential energy demand. ACTrees staff and board members worked closely with the Congresswoman to develop the Act, which would encourage utility companies to partner with local nonprofit tree organizations to plant shade trees.

Washington, DC (March 7, 2011)- On February 16, President Barack Obama released the final report of his America's Great Outdoors (AGO) initiative. During its 51 public listening sessions around the country, AGO heard loud and clear that our urban green spaces play an enormous role in Americans' everyday experience of the outdoors. Reflecting the importance of green urban areas, the AGO report includes key recommendations for urban greening.

College Park, MD (January 11, 2011)- The 112th Congress includes 94 new members, who are now beginning to represent their constituencies in Washington for the first time. Other local races carried new leaders to office at the state, county, and local levels. Take some time now to learn who your new elected officials are, and begin to educate them about the importance of urban greening.

College Park, MD (January 11, 2011)- Many elected officials will return to their home districts for the Martin Luther King, Jr., Day of Service on January 17th. If you are coordinating a service project on MLK Day, invite your delegation to participate. Contact schedulers for your Congressional representatives and alert them to your opportunities for drop-in, participation, and press.

College Park, MD (July 22, 2010)- ACT joined a diverse and growing group of leaders urging appropriators to provide full funding for fire suppression as outlined in the FLAME Act, and to restore other agency funds negatively impacted by fire borrowing.

Washington, DC (July 13, 2010)- Your Congressional representatives will be home at the end of the summer for the Summer District Work Period, with Congress in recess from August 9 to September 10. This is a great opportunity to schedule a meeting with your representative. As a constituent, your issues and concerns speak far louder than ACT can on your behalf. So call your representative's district office, and ask to schedule a meeting or invite him/her to an event. ACT has provided some talking points as follows

College Park, MD (June 14, 2010)- This spring, ACT executive director Alice Ewen was honored to participate in The White House Conference on America's Great Outdoors.

Washington, DC (June 8, 2010)- Your Congressional representatives will be home at the beginning of July for the Independence Day District Work Period, with Congress in recess from July 3 to July 12. This is a great opportunity to schedule a meeting with your representative. As a constituent, your issues and concerns speak far louder than ACT can on your behalf. So call your representative's district office, and ask to schedule a meeting or invite him/her to an event. ACT has provided some talking points as follows.