WASHINGTON – The Appraisal Institute has formed a partnership with the American Society of Appraisers to address real estate related issues on Capitol Hill and provide "a unified voice within the appraisal industry." Under the agreement the two organizations signed, the Appraisal Institute promised to keep the leadership of the American Society of Appraisers informed of real estate issues involving federal agencies and legislative bodies, including the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, and various land acquisition agencies. The Appraisal Institute will also promote the interests of the members of both organizations, In turn, ASA will involve the Appraisal Institute in its ongoing dialogue with various agency contacts, including the Internal Revenue Service, as it pertains to real property issues. Initially, the government relations partnership between the Appraisal Institute and ASA will run through July 1, 2002. At that time, the two organizations will review the success of the arrangement and decide on future initiatives.