2024 AIA MICHIGAN PRESIDENT

Greetings fellow AIA Members from Washington D.C. Several of our AIA Michigan colleagues and I are attending the 2024 Leadership Summit (Formerly Grassroots).  Representing our state at this conference is always a great opportunity to learn about what is important to AIA National and to our organization.  One of the main reasons this conference is in our nation’s capital is to have representation from each state meet with our State Senators and House or Representative members at their offices in Washington. In my experience the in-person meetings from constitutes from the state is always better than a letter or email and gives a chance to discuss topics that affects all architects.  Below is a brief summary of the topics we are currently discussing with both the Senate and the House of Representatives: 

• Design in Democracy Act: This is a counter to the former executive order which created an official preference for classical and traditional architecture for federal courthouses and other buildings over $50 million in construction value. The AIA was opposed to this executive order and the Design is Democracy Act would depoliticize the ability for future presidents or congress to mandate a required specific type of architecture.  
• Tax Relief for American Families and Workers: This act would extend the current ability for Architecture, Engineering and other likeminded business to continue being able to receive tax breaks for Innovation and Research within the year that the funds were spent rather than prorated over 5 years. It also has provisions for low-income families as well as “pass through” deductions...Read more.