2004 Adopted Resolutions
72nd Annual Meeting
Boston

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SUPPORT OF THE REPORT FROM THE TASK FORCE ON STATE AND LOCAL HOMELAND SECURITY FUNDING

     WHEREAS, President George W. Bush came to the 72nd Winter Meeting of The U.S. Conference of Mayors and pledged to help unstick the first responder funding that has been sent to the states; and

     WHEREAS, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Tom Ridge soon after established a special Task Force on State and Local Homeland Security Funding which included representatives from the Conference of Mayors and the other “Big 7" state and local government organizations; and

     WHEREAS, the DHS Task Force held numerous meetings and conference calls over the period of several months; and

     WHEREAS, the DHS Task Force released its final report on June 17, and that report includes important recommendations including: an exemption from reimbursement provisions of the Cash Management Improvement Act; flexibility for overtime; funding for incremental operational costs such as the protection of critical infrastructure and major events identified as high-risk by DHS; an automated grant tracking system; and, establishment of deadlines for the obligation of grants from one level of local government to another; and

     WHEREAS, most of these recommendations would require action by Congress,

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that The U.S. Conference of Mayors supports the recommendations of the Department of Homeland Security’s Task Force on State and Local Homeland Security Funding, and calls on Congress to include the recommended changes in the appropriate authorization and appropriations bills.