Advocacy Agenda

ACT's Board and Policy Committee set the following four priorities in April 2011 for this year's national advocacy agenda: Urban & Community Forestry Program, Urban Revitalization and Livable Communities Act, America's Great Outdoors and Land and Water Conservation Fund. New legislation may arise during the course of the year; we believe green infrastructure for wet weather management, urban revitalization, jobs, and energy savings will continue to be key drivers.

1. USDA-Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Program (Interior Appropriations)
Status: In Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior
ACT request is to appropriate $34.2 million in FY2012 to help deliver the baseline technical, financial, research, and educational services that help thousands of communities in every state assess, manage, and optimize the benefits of trees in urbanized landscapes. This is consistent with the President's FY2012 budget. Included in this program funding is $2 million for strategic tree planting initiatives for energy conservation, to be delivered on the local level for demonstration projects. We also recommend $18 million for Research & Development in urban natural resources.

2. Energy Conservation Through Trees Act (H.R. 2059)
Status: Introduced in House Jun. 2, 2011
This legislation would support programs run by electric utilities that use targeted planting of shade trees in order to reduce residential energy demand, in partnership with local nonprofit tree organizations. The purpose of this legislation is to help homeowners lower their electric bills- and help utilities lower their peak load demand- by reducing residential energy demand caused by the need to run air conditioners and heaters at high levels.

3. Urban Revitalization and Livable Communities Act (H.R. 709)
Status: Introduced in House Feb. 15, 2011
Formerly known as UPARR, this bill will rehabilitate and improve urban parks and recreational infrastructure and revitalize communities by increasing economic development, improving public health, increasing daily physical activity, reconnecting children with nature, reducing crime, and providing safe, healthy alternatives for at-risk youth.

4. America's Great Outdoors
The America's Great Outdoors listening sessions engaged over 10,000 citizens in feedback to help set a 21st Century Conservation Agenda for our nation. With over 80% of Americans living in metropolitan areas, the critical and rising importance of urban natural resources - urban parks, green spaces and trees - came through loud and clear. ACT supports the America's Great Outdoors goal to "create and enhance a new generation of safe, clean, accessible parks and community green spaces" through strategic urban initiatives. Funding for America's Great Outdoors will mainly come through the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

5. Land and Water Conservation Fund (Interior Appropriations)
Status: In Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior
This program administered by the National Parks Service provides funding to states and local governments for acquisition and development of public outdoor recreation areas and facilities. As designated by Congress in 1965, funding for LWCF comes from a portion of annual receipts from offshore oil and gas leases. ACT request is for full funding for LWCF at $900 million, consistent with the President's FY2012 Budget recommendation. LWCF will be the primary funding for the America's Great Outdoors initiatives.