February 12, 2007

New House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, speaking at the opening Plenary Session of The Conference of Mayors 75th Annual Winter Meeting January 25, discussed crucial issues facing the nation’s cities. These included energy independence, homeland security, public safety and community development initiatives.

In her opening remarks, Pelosi said that Conference President Trenton Mayor Douglas H. Palmer was a “powerful driving force as past chair of the National Conference of Democratic Mayors” and said she was proud to welcome more than 35 California mayors at the meeting, also recognizing the unflagging work of Conference Executive Director Tom Cochran.

Pelosi also noted an earlier meeting with mayors of the Conference leadership when they briefed her on the Conference’s 10-Point Plan to create “Strong Cities…Strong Families…for a Strong America.”

In other remarks, Pelosi, whose father and brother were both mayors of Baltimore, touched on some recurring themes that will be on the leadership agenda of the new Democratic majority House of Representatives.

Following are other excepts from Speaker Pelosi’s remarks.

“For America to be strong, and for America’s children to be healthy and globally competitive, we must rid this nation of our dependence on foreign oil and big oil interests. Taking bold measures today to achieve energy independence within ten years will be one of the highest priorities for Congress.

We will be following your lead: some of the best and most innovative ideas for energy independence come from our cities.

Mayor Thomas Menino has made Boston the first city in America to retrofit its entire school bus fleet with pollution control equipment, resulting in 90 percent lower tail pipe emissions.

In Dayton, Ohio, Mayor Rhine McLin has led the charge to change every one of the city’s stoplights from incandescent lights to LED fixtures that use 88 percent less electricity.

And Mayor Martin Chavez of Albuquerque has installed solar pool heating in all of the city’s swimming pools.

I know that every single one of you has best practices of your own to share. I have referred your proposal for ‘Energy and Environmental Block Grants’ to the committees of jurisdiction, and we will be relying on your expertise to help create an energy independent America.”

“To preserve our planet, God’s creation, we must make a serious commitment to combat global warming.

Global warming is an increasing threat to our world, with implications for our health, food supply, and the survival of many species, and perhaps entire ecosystems. As Hurricane Katrina demonstrated, global warming is also a critical issue for our nation’s cities.

In his State of the Union Address last night, President Bush pledged to address this critical issue, and we want to work with him. But we cannot afford to wait.

You are taking action now to fight global warming. So will the Congress. Working with state and local governments, the global, religious, business, and scientific communities, we intend to continue robust research on global warming and produce policies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions while simultaneously creating good-paying jobs. We will pass groundbreaking legislation that addresses global warming and energy independence.”

“As you say in your 10-Point Plan, ‘Mayors know that better schools make better cities.’ For strong cities, we must fund No Child Left Behind so that we can encourage math and reading education, taught by the most qualified and effective teachers.

When No Child Left Behind was initially conceived, it was to be a partnership. Instead, it has become an unfunded mandate. That cannot continue. Our children’s future depends upon it.”

“In order for our children to have a bright future, they must have a healthy start. Today, more than eight million American children are uninsured. This year, through the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, we have an opportunity to reduce the number of uninsured children by millions.

We must also match every aspect of our current policies on health care for our children, education, and childcare against the wealth of new information produced by our leading scientists and scholars.”

“There is no more powerful force than the advocacy of an organized group of mayors. Look no further than your success at saving Community Development Block Grants.

When a broad coalition of Republican and Democratic mayors stormed capitol hill to defeat the effort to dismantle CDBG, your voices were heard.

You powerfully made the case that CDBG is one of the few remaining initiatives that gets direct federal funds to our cities, where you know how to make the best use of them.

You succeeded, but we will have to continue the fight. We can expect more attempts to cut community development and housing initiatives when President Bush sends his budget to capitol hill next month. But with Chairman Frank, housing is a top priority for the first time in 12 years. We will be relying on your advocacy, in a bipartisan way, to make sure our appropriations bills represent the priorities of America’s cities.”

“We are now doing the hard work of turning this Congress into one of fiscal responsibility. We have passed the strict standards of pay-as-you-go, no new deficit spending to ensure our future generations have boundless opportunity, not mountains of debt. But it also means that in the omnibus appropriations bill for 2007, we are going to have to make difficult funding decisions. We need to turn our attention to fiscal year 2008 priorities and work together to address your concerns in those bills.”

“We have begun our hard work of reviewing the response to Katrina, beginning with hearings on housing. Our House Democratic Caucus Katrina Task Force, led by the delegations from the region, is committed to find solutions for the communities of the Gulf Coast.

In the State of the Union Address, President Bush did offer a commitment to work with leaders of both parties on the priorities of the American people. Democrats in Congress look forward to working with the President if he is willing to work with us for serious accomplishments.

But when it comes to the war in Iraq, the President continues to ignore the will of the country and the Congress. Congress will not ignore this President. His plan to escalate the war will receive an up-or-down vote in both Chambers.

America’s cities have always been place of hope and opportunity. Your communities have placed their trust in you to help educate their children, keep safe their neighborhoods, and foster an environment where businesses will thrive and create good jobs.”