ASLA Leads Effort to Reintroduce Green Infrastructure Bill

ASLA backs WISE Act to dedicate 20% of Clean Water funds to sustainable projects, boosting water quality and resilience.

ASLA Government Affairs worked with U.S. Representatives Nikema Williams (GA-05) and Emilia Sykes (OH-13) on the reintroduction of H.R. 8459, the Water Infrastructure Sustainability and Efficiency (WISE) Act, in the 119th Congress-legislation that would strengthen federal investment in sustainable water infrastructure. The bill would permanently dedicate 20 percent of funding from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund-the federal government's largest source of water infrastructure financing-to environmentally beneficial projects, including nature-based approaches, water efficiency, and innovative stormwater management.

This legislation advances a core ASLA priority to scale cost-effective strategies that improve water quality, reduce flood risk, and deliver multiple community benefits. Landscape architects are at the forefront of water management, designing systems that capture, treat, and reuse stormwater to reduce flooding, improve water quality, and create healthier, more resilient places.

As ASLA CEO Torey Carter-Conneen said, "Permanently doubling investment in nature-based solutions is a practical step toward safer, healthier, and more livable communities. By reducing flooding, improving water quality, and lowering long-term costs, these investments deliver lasting benefits people can see and feel in their daily lives, especially in communities most in need. Landscape architects see the impact of these solutions firsthand; our work in planning and design proves they deliver results. Congress should act now to advance the WISE Act."

ASLA applauds the leadership of Representatives Williams and Sykes and is working with congressional partners to build bipartisan support for the bill. Sustained federal investment in sustainable water infrastructure is essential to meeting growing climate and infrastructure challenges-and the WISE Act presents a clear opportunity for Congress to act now.

ASLA has developed a new "Landscape Architects Design Water Systems" leave-behind that members can use and customize to highlight the profession's role in planning, designing, and implementing water-related projects. The resource helps policymakers and partners understand how landscape architects improve water quality, manage stormwater, and deliver resilient infrastructure-while also clarifying the profession's role across the full project lifecycle, from design through implementation.