By Ed Somers
April 6, 2009

Conference of Mayors President Miami Mayor Manny Diaz has invited the following officials to the Annual Conference of Mayors, which will be hosted by Providence Mayor David N. Cicilline:

• President Barack Obama

• Vice President Joseph R. Biden, Jr.

• Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett

• Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan

• Secretary of Energy Steven Chu

• Secretary of Transportation Ray H. LaHood

• Secretary of Education Arne Duncan

• Attorney General Eric H. Holder, Jr.

• Secretary of the Treasury Timothy F. Geithner

• Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke

• Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton

• Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano

• Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis

• EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson

• FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III

In addition, Diaz will be extending invitations to the Secretary of Health and Human Services and Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy – once they are confirmed by the Senate.

As Diaz and USCM CEO and Executive Director Tom Cochran said in their letters of invitation, “Our 77th Annual Conference will focus on implementation of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). As you know, the nation’s mayors are committed to helping implement ARRA to save or create 3.5 million jobs, build sustainable infrastructure, and promote energy independence – priorities that President Obama has established for our great nation. We are working diligently with The White House and the Cabinet to help educate our members on the multitude of funding and tax incentives contained in ARRA, and show the American people the positive investments being made. We would welcome your comments on this initiative, and other priorities for the Obama'Biden Administration.”

Registration information for the 77th Annual Conference of Mayors is available at usmayors.org.