Washington, DC
March 14, 2003

Washington continues to be in political limbo on the question of federal funds for homeland security going straight to city hall for your first responders. At issue...still...is the amount of funds we can successfully attach to the money request President Bush will ask for the Iraq War. He told the nation in his press conference on March 6, that he will tell Congress and the public what amount of money he needs after the Iraq military operation commences. We will no doubt support President Bush in his request for more federal funds for our war as we invade Iraq and take control of the nation. As he will need more money to provide the resources of support for our men and women as they capture Iraq, we argue that we must have federal money coming straight to our police and fire departments to provide the resources of support we will need in cities and towns to protect us in the war against terrorism here in the USA. His request will come in the form of a supplemental appropriations bill and it is the only game in town to get the fudns we need for first responders.

We have this week set up our "war room" operation here in the headquarters of The United States Conference of Mayors. The first target for us is the Appropriations Committees in Congress. Within the political jurisdiction of the Appropriation members, there are approximately 700 mayors with the same political constituency as the Appropriations members. In other words, the same people who vote for the reelection of these members of Congress also vote for mayors. This is your constituency too. We must put the question as to whether or not Appropriation members will also support what is needed for our first responders as we provide the President with what he needs for the war. As we give and support the President with what he needs to capture Iraq, we advocate that we must also give and support the chief elected officers, police, fire, and emergency personnel to protect citizens now in harms way because of the international and national war against terrorism.

Mayors will be called in the next few days and they will be asked to contact Congress to support direct money to city halls for our first responders. Please follow through on this request. There is developing bipartisan support to aid us in our effort but remember it is a question of money and how that money is to be distributed. Since our country was formed, the police and fire protection of our cities has always been the responsibility of our cities and counties. Our position is simple and forthright: provide the money to the jurisdiction that performs the function and the first responders are in the cities and counties.

We need action from you now. At issue is homeland defense monies for your city. We must not cede homeland defense/first responder federal money to our states. Governors don't run police departments. Governors don't run fire departments. Governors don't run the emergency personnel operations connected to the emergency rooms of the large hospitals in metro areas. You do. When 911 is dialed, it's you. It's not the governor.

Many members of Congress ...Democratic and Republican ... are getting our message but we have a long way to go before we accomplish our mission. We are poised and ready to hammer them for homeland defense monies as we support the President for the money he will need to capture Iraq. With your help and your first responders help we can and will be ready to muster the votes to provide you with what we need to help us keep our nation safer in these perilous days ahead of us.