By Ed Somers
March 15, 2004

The National League of Cities (NLC) Congressional Cities Conference held in Washington, DC on March 5-9 culminated in a City Lobby Day focused on seven key priorities.

Under the leadership of NLC President Charles Lyons of Arlington (MA), the agenda focused on Homeland Security, Public Safety, Transportation, Children and Families, Housing, Internet Tax Moratorium, and MTBE Liability.

In working on these issues, the meeting featured remarks from key Washington leaders including Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (TN), Senators Susan Collins (ME) and Orrin Hatch (UT), Representatives Don Young (AL), Mike Turner (OH), Elijah Cummings (MD) and Jim Turner (TX), and Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta.

Senator Frist said that he knows cities want direct first responder funding, and that the Administration's budget would more than double funding for high threat areas.

During his remarks, Senator Hatch, who chairs the Judiciary Committee, said that he disagreed with the Administration's budget proposal to merge and cut the Local Law Enforcement Block Grant and the Byrne program, and said they should remain separate and fully funded.

In charging the more than 3,000 NLC delegates, Mr. Lyons said, "Let me be blunt: The partnership among governments in this nation is unraveling. Our cities and towns are suffering the worst fiscal condition in decades due to several years of declining revenues, skyrocketing expenses such as employee health care and pension costs, and state budget problems. That's why this is a terrible time for the federal government to cut vital investments in hometown America, heap unfunded mandates on local government, and pre-empt our revenue authority. And we-re here to say so."

"You may hear that we are asking too much. Some will say that the federal government is in record deficit. That we are at war in Iraq and against global terrorism. That we cannot afford these investments. But, as a nation, we have faced similar challenges before, and we have had the strength and the vision to look to the future and act boldly and decisively for the benefit of our country," Lyons added.

In addition to President Lyons, District of Columbia Mayor Anthony A. Williams serves as First Vice President and Councilman Jim Hunt of Clarksburg, WV is Second Vice President of the NLC.

Direct Homeland Security Funding

The NLC has changed its advocacy position by now calling for direct funding for first responders. Previously, the NLC had supported a funding distribution through the states.

The NLC policy agenda taken to the Hill calls on Congress to, "Support local homeland security through continued strong support for all first responders including direct funding to cities and regions with populations greater than 100,000 and to high-threat communities."