By Ed Somers
February 9, 2004

President George W. Bush came to the Capital Hilton Hotel on January 23 to address the 72nd Winter Meeting of The U.S. Conference of Mayors.

The President met with the top officers of the Conference prior to his remarks, and then was introduced by Conference President Hempstead (NY) Mayor James A. Garner. As Garner said, the Conference and Administration have worked closely together on the issues of brownfield redevelopment, faith-based programs and AIDS in Africa, and this was the fifth meeting between the Conference and the President.

Garner presented the President the Conference's new Five-Point Agenda, and thanked the President for his continued engagement with the mayors.

In his opening remarks, President Bush said, "It's not easy to be a mayor, probably a lot harder than being President, because I don't have to fill potholes."

The President thanked the Conference for its work on brownfields legislation which he said, "will change America for the better, it's a collaborative effort between the Administration and the mayors to do some good environmental policy that will make communities a better place."

Homeland Security

The President then moved into a discussion of homeland security and the war in Iraq.

We must "never forget the lessons of September 11, 2001" the President said, adding that his FY 2005 budget will contain $30 billion for homeland security, three times more than before September 11.

Prior to the remarks, Garner related to the President the continuing concern that homeland security funding is not reaching cities, as reflected in the two surveys conducted by the Conference of Mayors.

President Bush responded to this concern during his remarks and said, "we will work with the mayors to make sure it [homeland security funding] gets unstuck." The President said he understands that the money may be getting stuck at the state level, and will be hosting the National Association of Governors soon and that this will "provide an opportunity to work this out."

The President thanked the mayors for their work on homeland security saying, "Mayors get the credit for energizing joint terrorism task forces, mayors get the credit for good communication, and mayors get the credit for good response."

The President said we are "in a new kind of war" and that the PATRIOT Act is allowing the federal government to share important information.

The President spoke firmly about the war in Iraq and the continuing international war against terrorism.

Economic Agenda

President Bush then moved into a discussion of domestic economic issues. The President said that his tax cut plan has helped strengthen small businesses that are helping to grow the economy.

The President praised the No Child Left Behind Act, which has increased federal education spending by 49 percent, but required better and measured results. "This is an important piece of legislation, and I will resist any proposal to undermine it."

He asked the mayors to take a leadership role in "challenging the soft bigotry of low expectations... to ensure that every child learn and no child be left behind in America."

The President said that the nation needs to make sure that the workforce development programs meet the needs of employers, and encouraged mayors to work with their community colleges.

He also promoted his new immigration agenda, which would create a temporary worker program without amnesty, and his prisoner re-entry initiative which will provide $300 million over four years.

Promoting Homeownership

"I know housing is important for the mayors... we want people owning their home in America," President Bush said. He added that while homeownership is at its highest levels in history, there is still a minority homownership gap. The President said he is pleased that Congress recently enacted his down-payment assistance plan, and called on Congress to now fund the program in FY 2005 at $200 million.

The President also said that HUD is working to simplify the paperwork needed to buy a home, make the process less expensive, and provide counseling services.

The Administration is also working to permit zero percent down-payment loans to low-income Americans. He also called on Congress to pass a single family housing credit to help build affordable homes in cities.

The President recognized former Syracuse Mayor Roy Bernardi who he said is being promoted to Deputy Secretary at HUD.

Faith-Based Center

The President concluded his remarks with a discussion of his faith-based initiative. The President said that he strongly believes in the separation of church and state, but that there has been discrimination against faith-based programs from the federal government.

The President said that because Congress has failed to enact legislation, he has signed an executive order to open up as much money as possible to faith-based organizations.

The President also commented on the Conference of Mayors Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives saying to the mayors, "I know that you have opened an office to help expedite federal funding... I urge you to take advantage of this." The President also recognized Jim Towey who runs the White House Office on Faith-Based and Community Initiatives and is working with the Conference of Mayors.