By Ed Somers
March 17, 2003

Following the recent Winter Leadership Meeting, it was agreed that the Conference of Mayors would launch a major grass'roots effort to secure direct first responder funding for America's cities. To that end, mayors are being asked to contact their Senators and Representatives to urge that direct first responder funding be included in a supplemental appropriations bill. A supplemental could be before Congress within the next several weeks.

Supplemental Funding Bill

While mayors, police chiefs and fire chiefs have raised the issue of first responder funding in numerous meetings and lobbying events since September 11, the FY 2003 omnibus appropriations bill did not contain the $3.5 billion first responders program proposed by President Bush, but rather funded several existing programs at much lower levels. President Bush has expressed his concern with this problem by stating that the bill, "falls nearly $1 billion short of my request for State and local law enforcement and emergency personnel, and in particular underfunds terrorism preparedness for first responders."

Top Congressional staff have said that a supplemental appropriations bill of up to $100 billion could soon be submitted by the Administration to pay for the war with Iraq. It was agreed at the Key West Leadership Meeting in February that the Conference would seek to include significant direct first responder funding in this supplemental funding bill, in that it is our only opportunity to get new funding before next year.

Therefore, Conference President Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino sent a letter to President Bush (see letter page 4) thanking him for his concern, and asking him to include first responder funding in a supplemental request. The Conference continues to emphasize that funding must be provided directly to America's cities, and that it should not come at the expense of existing law enforcement programs needed in the continuing fight against crime.

Support Growing for Direct Funding

On the issue of direct funding, some progress is beginning to be seen. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (NY), who has led the fight for direct funding in Congress, has just introduced a new $7 billion "Domestic Defense Fund" with direct funding for cities (see page 5). Both Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (SD) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (CA) have now stated their support for direct funding in a joint written statement, and Senator Daschle has introduced a new $5 billion first responder bill. And, Republican Senator Susan Collins (ME) has said that she will soon introduce a $4 billion grant program for first responders with direct funding for cities and counties, saying "we need grant programs that go directly to the communities to help their first responder needs." Senator Collins chairs the Governmental Affairs Committee which oversees much of the new Department of Homeland Security.

There is also strong support from the first responder community for this effort. The Major Cities Police Chiefs Association, Police Executive Research Forum, International Association of Fire Chiefs, International Association of Fire Fighters, and National Association of Police Organizations have signed a letter with the Conference calling for direct funding.

Action Needed

A concerted effort will be needed to move Congress to act on the request for supplemental appropriations, and to ensure that a majority of the funding goes directly to cities. To that end, the Conference is activating a phone bank to contact mayors urging them to contact their delegations.

In coming days, the Conference will have a clearer picture as to the precise amendment being supported to get direct first responder funding, and will provide constant updates as the process moves forward.

Also, a list of Senate and House Appropriations Committee members is contained in USMAYOR. It will be particularly important to contact these Members of Congress.