A deep dive into what's happening in AAGD Government Affairs
Legislative Committee Meeting
The 2019-2020 Legislative Committee held its first meeting of the year on August 14. The committee discussed goals and expectations for the year, state and local elections, the AAGD PAC endorsement and contribution process, and upcoming government affairs and PAC events. The committee was also asked to complete an advocacy survey to assist in identifying relationships between elected officials and Legislative Committee members and priority issues for the committee to address this year.
The next Legislative Committee meeting will be a conference call on September 18 at 9:00 a.m. On the call, the committee will discuss upcoming elections and other business.
AAGD Leadership Lyceum
On August 15, the AAGD Leadership Lyceum class had its government affairs day. The day included a discussion of AAGD PAC and government affairs, a tour of Dallas City Hall and the new 911 call center, a meeting with Dallas city councilmember Paula Blackmon, a lunch with State Representative Angie Chen Button, and a presentation by Mike Clark on relationship building with elected officials and the importance of being involved in government affairs and PAC at AAGD, TAA, and NAA.
2019 Business Exchange
The 2019 AAGD/AATC Business Exchange was hosted at the Irving Convention Center on August 21. 289 owner/manager members and 361 supplier partners attended the event. There were 4,335 meetings, and more than $158,000 was raised for NAAPAC. The number of attendees, the number of meetings, and the dollars raised for PAC were all records for the Business Exchange.
Congressional Property Tours
On August 23, AAGD members and staff facilitated a property tour for Congressman Van Taylor. The tour with Congressman Van Taylor was hosted by Alpha Barnes at Country Lane Seniors in McKinney. Hugh Cobb, Principal and Owner at Alpha Barnes and past president of AAGD, led the tour with his team at Country Lane Seniors. The tour offered Congressman Taylor the opportunity to see first-hand the benefits of the LIHTC program and the opportunities for affordable living it delivers to seniors in Collin County. During the tour AAGD members and staff also had an opportunity to discuss our industry’s federal legislative priorities, and we thanked Congressman Taylor for his leadership and friendship to our industry throughout his years in the Texas House and Senate.
On September 4, AAGD members and staff facilitated a property tour for Congressman Lance Gooden. The tour with Congressman Lance Gooden was hosted by Churchill Residential at Evergreen at Mesquite. Robert Tinning, Executive Vice President of Churchill Residential and past president of AAGD, led the tour with his team at Evergreen at Mesquite. During the tour, Congressman Gooden learned more about the LIHTC program that was used to develop the property and the numerous benefits it provides to income-restricted seniors in Mesquite. After the tour, Congressman Gooden met with more than 30 residents, provided a congressional update, and answered questions about affordable housing, Social Security, health care, and other issues. AAGD members and staff also thanked Congressman Gooden for his support of the rental housing industry during his six years as a Texas state representative, before being elected to Congress.
AAGD has scheduled a property tour with U.S. Congressman Colin Allred on October 3, 2019 at The Courtyard Apartments in Garland. This tour will be the first for freshman congressman Allred.
Congressional property tours like these help AAGD show our elected officials what goes into operating an apartment community, and they assist us in building lasting support for our industry.
TX/OU Fundraisers
On October 10-11, members of the AAGD Legislative Committee will be attending TX/OU fundraising events for numerous state senators and state representatives. At these events, members will be delivering AAGD PAC checks and discussing our legislative priorities for the 2021 Session of the Texas Legislature.