HomeMy WebLinkAboutRes 1503 - Urge Congress to Pass Homeland Security Bill with Funding for Local Communities �J,�NIILA: �qs
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1908
C ity
Washington
Resolution No. .-J
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
TUKWILA, WASHINGTON, URGING CONGRESS TO PASS
A HOMELAND SECURITY BILL WITH FUNDING FOR
LOCAL COMMUNITIES.
WHEREAS, the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 have changed life
throughout the nation, and robbed Americans of their sense of security; and
WHEREAS, the attacks have far reaching implications for all cities and towns
and their respective first responders, who are on the front lines of hometown defense;
and
WHEREAS, cities have shouldered the full financial burden for hometown
security at a cost of approximately $3 billion since September 2001, and
WHEREAS, at significant cost to local taxpayers across America, cities have met
their many new hometown security challenges and have: updated their emergency
plans to meet multiple new threats such as dirty bombs, biological and chemical
weapons, have taken on security duties at commercial airports, identified and assessed
their vulnerabilities, and improved collaboration, communication and information
sharing within their regions and with state and federal government; and
WHEREAS, cities cannot carry this new financial burden alone much longer
without raising local taxes or cutting services, while continuing to maintain other
essential local services, and
WHEREAS, a recent National League of Cities survey shows that, for the first
time since 1992, a majority of cities are less able to meet their financial obligations,
because of a fall -off in revenues due to the economic downturn, and the surge in
spending for hometown security, and
WHEREAS, this represents an opportunity to affirm our desire to encourage bi-
partisan unity to act decisively on federal homeland security coordination and funding;
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA,
WASHINGTON, HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Partnership. The City of Tukwila, Washington endorses the National
League of Cities' Hometown Security Day to draw attention to the essential role of
America's cities and towns as the front line of homeland defense, and the urgent need
for a true federal /local partnership to carry out this new responsibility
Section 2. Homeland Security Bill. The City of Tukwila, Washington urges
Congress and the President to work out their differences and pass a homeland security
bill now to provide a federal framework for unified and coordinated responses to
terrorism
Homeland Security Bill.doc
Section 3. 2003 Funding. The City of Tukwila, Washington urges Congress,
with the full support of the President, to immediately finalize 2003 funding for
homeland security, particularly the $3 5 billion promised for first responders, and the
$22 million per month reimbursement promised to cities and towns for providing local
law enforcement at the nations commercial airports.
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA,
WASHINGTON, at a Regular Meeting this 21 k day of
2002.
Richard Simpson, CounctrPresident
ATTES T A AUTH�E NTICAT J ED
LQ�J`�Jl t 7 Y &.K"
Jane E. Cantu, CMC, City Clerk
A OVED AS TO FORM Y Filed with the City Clerk:
Passed by the City Council. --Jh
Resolution Number-
Office of the City Attorney
Homeland Security Bill.doc