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Dear Members of Congress:
Congratulations on your recent reelection. We look forward
to working with you closely throughout the 108th Congress,
as we have so often in the past, on issues that affect both
our community and all of the nation's municipalities.
I am writing today to urge you to take a leadership stand
in ensuring that Congress and President Bush settle their
differences and act quickly on urgent homeland security
issues. Specifically, we ask that you make the following
actions your highest priorities during the upcoming lame
duck session.
- Restore the $2.5 billion in homeland security funding
contained in the 2002 supplemental appropriation that
was approved by the Congress in July, then withheld by
the Administration;
- Ensure that the Transportation Security Administration's
2003 appropriation enables the agency to reimburse municipalities
approximately $22 million per month for the local law
enforcement personnel assigned to the nation's 429 commercial
airports; and
- Finalize legislation authorizing the new Department
of Homeland Security and appropriate the $3.5 billion
in new funding that was promised to our first responders
nine months ago.
Homeland security is the top priority for the nation's
cities. As each day goes by, our sense of urgency grows
as our needs for help with planning, training, staffing,
and equipment go unmet. For 14 months, we have stretched
our very limited resources to meet the multiple new challenges
of terrorism affecting our community.
Since September 11, 2001, municipalities of New Jersey
have spent untold millions on homeland security responsibilities.
Collectively, municipalities nationwide have spent about
$3 billion of their own funds on staffing, equipment, guarding
airports, and performing other homeland security duties.
This comes in addition to existing public safety and other
ongoing responsibilities.
We urge you and your colleagues to make federal support
for homeland security your top priority before the 107th
Congress adjourns. The longer that needed federal investment
in homeland security is postponed, the more hometown security
is compromised.
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