By Dana Bykowski
February 9, 2004

Expressing support to mayors to substantially increase funding for emergency first responders, which are on the front lines of America's homeland defense, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton(NY) addressed the 72nd Annual U.S. Conference of Mayors Winter Meeting during the closing luncheon on Friday, January 23rd.

Senator Clinton recalled that soon after September 11, 2001, members of Congress met with mayors from across the country.

As she spoke of the important roles mayors play in leading the fight against terror at home, she said, "It became clear that our cities had to be viewed as the most important asset in the first line of defense against terrorism."

Senator Clinton told mayors that like many of her colleagues in the Senate, she realizes that local communities have been forced to bear almost the entire financial burden of protecting the homeland from continuing or possible threats of terrorism. Congress initially provided financial support for homeland security needs through the appropriation of funds to states and cities, but the dollars and resources have yet to reach local governments, particularly those cities such as Las Vegas, New York, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. that must spend large amounts of money on a daily basis to defend against possible attacks. Additionally, local police, fire, emergency, and hospital workers that serve as first responders in addition to their traditional duties, must assume homeland security responsibilities, but increased funds have not been provided for additional personnel or personnel hours or specialized training and equipment.

"We have appropriated billions of dollars, but it has not been passed down to the place it is needed most-the city. The money is supposed to flow from Washington toe the city-not from Washington to the state capitol," said Senator Clinton.

Pledging to "leave no city behind", Senator Clinton said she is very proud of what we have done as a nation to support our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, but our soldiers on the frontline of defense, in our cities, need the very same support. Senator Clinton used her hometown of New York City as an example of a locality that is lacking the appropriate funding for homeland security needs. Clinton called for direct, increased funding to local governments, and greater flexibility for local governments as to how and where the money should be spent.

Senator Clinton stood behind the U.S. Conference of Mayors Homeland Security Report, which stated that New York City has not received the proper amount of communications equipment, protective gear, and emergency response training. The report also stated that 52 out of 58 cities and counties have not had the appropriate amount of dollars dispersed to meet their needs. Many problems identified after September 11 are still present. Fire, EMS, police officers and health officials still have trouble communicating and properly with other county, state federal systems in part because there is a shortage or funding for proper training or personnel to operate emergency equipment.

"Part of the challenge that remains is to get the appropriate dollars directly to the cities," said Senator Hillary Clinton. Senator Clinton supports legislation that would appropriate 7 billion in funding for the next four fiscal years to go directly to urban areas, and an additional one billion dollars for particularly -high threat- urban areas.

Senator Clinton also reassured mayors that homeland security is not the only issue that Congress must continue to focus on.

"Homeland security can't be looked at in isolation. The security of our country is connected to so many other issues," said Senator Clinton. "Infrastructure, transportation, housing, health care, education and full funding of the No Child Left Behind Act, the Workforce Investment Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Act are all things that the federal government must continue to preserve and protect in order for every city in America to be strong. I stand ready with Congress to ensure that the needs of our cities are met, and the federal government supports the very mayors that keep our local economies strong."