June 16, 2008

Resolution #84: Investing in America’s Youth calls on Congress to make a major new investment in our nation’s youth of at least $1 billion to address the unmet needs of youth who have been adversely affected since 2000.

Resolution #85: Strengthening Workforce Development urges the federal government to strengthen the Workforce Investment Act by significantly increasing its funding to adequately reflect its importance.

Resolution #61: Metro Economies Green Initiative: Supporting Emerging Models of Excellence encourages Congress, through consideration of legislation addressing global climate change, to authorize programs within the Department of Housing and Urban Development to target designated funding resources to metro communities meeting certain criteria to enable these communities to undertake model green industry economic and workforce development programs of excellence; and that, among such programs, The U.S. Conference of Mayors will support federal efforts to authorize and fund the following initiatives: Metro Area Green Zones; The Metro Area Green Institute; Mini-Metro Green Grants; Alternative Green Academies.

Resolution #59: Supporting the Development of a “Green” Economy calls upon Congress to extend the Wind Production Tax Credit, Solar Investment Tax Credit, and the Energy Efficiency Tax Credit as soon as possible so that 117,000 jobs in that sector can be secured in 2009. It also calls upon Congress to fund the programs passed in the Green Jobs Act to their full authorization level for FY 2009.

Resolution #86: Green Jobs Pledge calls on The U.S. Conference of Mayors to strengthen and make further progress on its stated commitment to improve the environment in ways that grow both the economy and green jobs locally.

Resolutions #87: Urging Increased Investment in College Readiness and Access calls on federal education policymakers to work closely with mayors to ensure a sound federal investment in education initiatives and programs that prepare students for and provide access to college, including increased funding for the GEAR UP and TRIO programs. The resolution also urges Congress to adopt and fund the Graduation Promise Act and the GRADUATES Act and support financial assistance for all students who desire to do so to attend college.

Resolution #88: Early Childhood Programs for America’s Families urges Congress to fully fund the Head Start program and the Child Care and Development Block Grant so that all eligible children can have access to these highly valuable early childhood development and enrichment services.

Resolution #15: Increasing Access to Quality Preschool Programs urges federal, state, and local governments to invest in expanding access to quality preschool education, including investments in both quality resources for students and the professional development of teachers, paraprofessionals and staff in early education centers.

Resolution #90: Increasing Access to Quality After'school Programs calls for federal, state and local levels of government to support cities and their districts in building and investing in quality after'school programming. The resolution also encourages collaboration among government agencies, non-profit organizations and the business community to develop after'school programming.

Resolution #91: Mayoral Leadership and Involvement in Education urges state and local governments to encourage the engagement of mayors in education and support mayoral leadership and involvement in education that makes a positive difference in the quality of teaching and learning in the city’s schools, whether through direct forms of involvement or informal means.

Resolution #92: Support for Teach for America urges federal, state, and local governments to increase their investment in Teach For America so that it may grow to scale and build a truly effective movement to eliminate educational inequity.

Resolution #93: Expand the Earned Income Tax Credit to Better Accommodate Working Families and Individuals calls on Congress to reform the Earned Income Tax Credit so that the benefits available to lower income families and individuals will be increased, simplified, and easier to access.

Resolution #94: English Language Learners (ELL) encourages federal, state, and local governments to support educational initiatives geared towards addressing the needs of ELL students and the related challenges it presents to districts and communities.

Resolution #2: Support for Cradle to Prison Pipeline Initiative establishes the Conference of Mayors’ commitment to fighting for policies that put children on track to a productive adulthood and against the criminalization of children at younger and younger ages.

Resolution #44: In Support of Full Funding and “Best Practice” Implementation of the Second Chance Act calls on Congress to fund the Second Chance Act for fiscal years 2009 and 2010 at the full authorized amount.