AIA Long Beach/South Bay was proud to be represented at the 2026 AIA Leadership Summit in Washington, DC by President Casey Chapin, AIA; 2027 President-elect Allie Schieble Harding, AIA; and Executive Director Des Gemigniani.
The annual summit convenes AIA volunteer leaders and executive directors from across the country to strengthen chapter leadership, align around national priorities, and advocate for the architectural profession during Hill Day on Capitol Hill.
Hill Day Advocacy Priorities
During meetings with members of Congress and their staff, our delegation advanced several key federal priorities critical to architects, our clients, and the communities we serve:
- Design Freedom for Federal Architecture – Supporting policies that protect design excellence, sustainability, and community-responsive public buildings.
- Opposition to Arbitrary Fee Limitations on Federal Contracts – Ensuring fair and transparent procurement processes that allow architects to deliver high-quality work.
- Housing Policy Advancement – Strengthening programs such as the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), and Workforce Housing Tax Credit to address the national housing shortage.
- Community Resiliency & Hazard Mitigation – Supporting FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance, the Resilient AMERICA Act, and The Shelter Act to invest in disaster preparedness and long-term resilience.
- Tax Incentives for Architects & the Built Environment – Advocating for preservation and enhancement of tools such as the R&D Tax Credit, R&D Expensing, 199A Pass-Through Deduction, 179D Energy-Efficient Commercial Buildings Deduction, and the Historic Tax Credit.
These conversations emphasized the essential role architects play in delivering safe, sustainable, equitable, and economically vibrant communities.
Congressional Offices Visited
Our delegation – which included Niloofar Badihi, AIA, 2027 President-elect of AIA Orange County, met with the offices of:
- Dave Min, CA-47
- Mark Takano, CA-39
- Maxine Waters, CA-43
We are grateful for the time and thoughtful engagement of each office and for their ongoing partnership on issues affecting housing, climate resilience, federal procurement, and economic opportunity throughout Southern California.
Participation in the Leadership Summit reinforces AIA Long Beach/South Bay’s commitment to advocacy at every level — local, state, and federal — ensuring that the voice of architects remains strong in shaping policies that impact our profession and our communities.