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.