Richmond (CA) Mayor Irma L. Anderson, Chair
May 29, 2006

Resolution #12: Reauthorization of Ryan White CARE Act urges Congress to reauthorize the Ryan White CARE Act and to appropriate sufficient funds for localities to implement CARE Act programs; give sufficient transition time to implement new HIV surveillance systems so that CARE Act funds are allocated based on complete and accurate case counts; opposes efforts to eliminate the “80/20” provision in Title II of the CARE Act; urges Congress to immediately replace the inaccurate system currently used to estimate living AIDS cases with the CDC’s estimate of the actual number of persons reported to be living with AIDS, adjusted for reporting delays; base any modifications in the reauthorization regarding allocation of funds on appropriate measures that accurately assess severity of need in a given jurisdictions; supports compromise language on the hold harmless protection that prevents the rapid destabilization of existing systems of care upon which people living with HIV/AIDS rely; and urges that Congress, in reauthorizing the Act, modify it to give cities and their communities the proper tools to address new challenges confronting the HIV/AIDS epidemic while maintaining the Act’s successful structure, strong local control and a continuity of care so that life-saving health services are not interrupted.

Resolution #13: Supporting and Encouraging Local Partnerships with the Jefferson Awards encourages and supports voluntary local partnerships by mayors with the Jefferson Awards to establish recognition systems in their communities and become part of the prestigious national Jefferson Awards recognition network.

Resolution #14: Pandemic Preparedness supports the thrust and direction of the Administration’s National Strategic Pandemic Readiness Plan as it relates to preparedness activities for federal, state and local health officials; and commends the Plan for the focus on the needs, roles and responsibilities of local officials in a pandemic occurrence; and strongly urges the Congress to fully fund the National Strategic Pandemic Readiness Plan in order to insure proper preparedness activities at the Federal, state and local government level.

Resolution #15 Health Disparities requests continued and expanded national support for a) federal programs that explicitly tackle this major social problem, such as REACH 2010 and many Title VII Health Professions programs; and b) prioritize cross-departmental efforts to understand the causes of and promote solutions to racial and ethnic disparities.

Resolution #16: Supporting Parkinson’s Awareness all mayors to support efforts in their communities to advocate and advance research to find better treatments and cures for Parkinson’s and other neurological conditions; and reaffirms its support to educate all citizens about the possibilities in the research field into causes, treatments and cures, so that many voices can be heard to facilitate passage of needed legislation for those suffering with these extremely debilitating and neurological impairments.

Resolution #17: Community Response System Initiative urges mayors to form a Community Response System Initiative or “CRSI” Committee; and these committees will train individuals, including children (K-12), to be active bystanders, equipped with life supporting first aid skills to assist during emergencies; and that these committees will also raise important questions about needs related to preparedness yet to be addressed by cities and towns, and will seek out ways to make a difference, to help Mayors prepare their residents, and ultimately, to save lives.

Resolution #18: Increased Funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) urges Congress to fully fund appropriations of the LIHEAP program to $5.1 billion in the FY 2007 budget to accommodate the increase in eligible low-income households and rising energy prices.