DIRECT LOCAL FIRST RESPONDER ASSISTANCE
WHEREAS, America's mayors are 100 percent committed to the homeland war against terrorism;
and
WHEREAS, cities throughout the nation have already dedicated unprecedented, and mostly
unbudgeted, resources to the new war on terrorism as detailed in a survey released by the
Conference of Mayors which estimated that from September 11, 2001 through the end of 2002,
cities spent an additional $2.6 billion on new homeland security priorities including equipment,
overtime and training; and
WHEREAS, during the recent state of high threat alert, and the war in Iraq, a Conference survey
estimated that cities across the nation spent over $70 million per week in additional security costs;
and
WHEREAS, as part of the fiscal year 2003 supplemental funding bill, $2.34 billion was included
for first responder assistance including: $1.5 million in state block grants (80 percent for local
governments); $700 million for high threat areas as determined by the Department of Homeland
Security; $200 million for state critical infrastructure protection grants (50 percent local); and $109
million for communications interoperability; and
WHEREAS, despite a major lobbying effort by the nation's mayors - in partnership with local first
responders including police chiefs, fire chiefs, police officers and fire officers - the supplemental
did not include direct formula assistance to the nation's cities; and
WHEREAS, the Administrations FY 2004 budget includes a request for $3.5 billion in additional
first responders assistance, with no provision for direct formula funding,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that The United States Conference of Mayors calls
on the Congress to pass, and the President to sign, legislation creating a new first responder
funding program with direct local assistance and maximum flexibility to cover costs such as
equipment, training, exercises, planning and overtime related to homeland security.
©2003 U.S. Conference of Mayors 
