Advocacy Agenda

advocacy_agenda

Advocacy Agenda

ACT's Board and Policy Committee set the following priorities for this year's national advocacy agenda: Urban & Community Forestry Program, Farm Bill, and Vibrant Cities. 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. Interior Appropriations (USDA-Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Program)
ACTrees request is to appropriate $31.3 million in FY2013 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. We also recommend $18 million for Research & Development in urban natural resources, and $4.7 million for the EPA Urban Waters Federal Partnership.
Budget Recommendations
Talking Points

2. 2012 Farm Bill Re-Authorization
In partnership with the Sustainable Urban Forests Coalition, ACTrees support for the 2012 Farm Bill Re-Authorization calls for no new programs or increased funding levels; encourages and facilitates interagency coordination to protect urban forest health; addresses issues at the landscape level and promote urban trees and forests as green infrastructure; and supports local initiatives, minimizing overall costs and maximizing impacts for every dollar invested.
Information Sheet
Talking Points

3. Vibrant Cities and Urban Forests
With over 83% of Americans living in metropolitan areas, ACTrees supports the vision and recommendations of the Vibrant Cities and Urban Forests project. These 12 recommendations lay the groundwork on how we can approach creating and sustaining vibrant cities through an integrative approach.
Vibrant Cities Report
Talking Points

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. ACTrees 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.

TAKE ACTION NOW
Most of our policy work happens between January and May. So please don't delay. Write letters of support with specific requests to your U.S. Representative or Senator. In addition to the asks for legislation, include local anecdotes in your letters--and also reach out to your state or local representatives and ask them to also support your request. Finally, let ACTrees know what actions you have taken so that we can follow-up with the appropriate DC staff.

Here is the timeline for action.

  • March- Contact your Congressional offices and send a letter of support to your U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators. ACTrees can provide sample language: contact us. Consider assembling a coalition of local stakeholders to jointly write a letter together after a collaborative dialogue and design process that includes public comments. The implementation of green infrastructure is one of the most effective ways to improve quality of life, attract new business, and improve the general environment. That's a pretty broad coalition of political leaders, business owners, local organizers, and residents.

  • March- Attend the Policy Summit and schedule a meeting with your Representatives in DC.

  • May & June- Follow up by phone and email. Also, consider using this time to take your Representative on a tour of the neighborhoods that could benefit from more green infrastructure. Make sure to reinforce how trees are an effective, low cost strategies that will grow the local economy. Your Members of Congress will be home some of the following dates: May 21 - June 1, June 9 - June 15, June 30 - July 6.

  • August- Again, consider meeting with your Congressman during the summer. Congress recesses August 4 - September 7.