Res. No. 827

Resolution in support of the Domestic Defense Fund Act of 2005, sponsored by Senator Hillary Clinton, which aims to increase the flow of Homeland Security funds directly to local communities.

By The Speaker (Council Member Miller) and Council Members Vallone Jr., Addabbo Jr., Avella, Brewer, Clarke, Comrie, Fidler, Gennaro, Gerson, James, Jennings, Liu, Martinez, McMahon, Nelson, Palma, Perkins, Quinn, Rivera, Sanders Jr., Seabrook, Sears, Stewart, Weprin and Reed

                     Whereas, In the aftermath of the tragic events of September 11, 2001, major cities such as New York have been on the front lines in the war against terrorism; and

                     Whereas, These cities have been forced to bear a significant portion of the burden that comes along with the war against terrorism, a burden that local governments cannot and should not have to bear alone; and

                     Whereas, It is clear that the current method of allocating Federal homeland security resources intended for local communities has not been effective; and

                     Whereas, The 9/11 Commission stated in its report that it “understands the contention that every State and city needs to have some minimum infrastructure for emergency response, but Federal homeland security assistance should not remain a program for general revenue sharing. It should supplement State and local resources based on the risks or vulnerability that merit additional support;” and

                     Whereas, The U.S. Commission on National Security/21st Century (Hart-Rudman Commission), chartered by the U.S. Department of Defense in 1998 to examine U.S. national security policies and processes, stated that “Congress should establish a system for allocating scarce resources based less on dividing the spoils and more on addressing identified threats and vulnerabilities. To do this, the Federal Government should consider such factors as population, population density, vulnerability assessment, and presence of critical infrastructure within each State;” and

Whereas, It is necessary to provide local communities with the resources and tools they need to bolster emergency response efforts and provide for other emergency response initiatives in order to establish a better-prepared home front and a stronger nation; and

Whereas, On January 24, 2005, Senator Clinton introduced the Domestic Defense Fund Act of 2005 as part of her commitment to provide critical homeland security resources to first responders and to communities on the front lines of the nation’s defense; and

Whereas, The Domestic Defense Fund Act of 2005 is co-sponsored by Senator Charles Schumer and supported by the United States Conference of Mayors, the International Association of Fire Fighters, and the National Association of Police Organizations; and

Whereas, The Act seeks to fund a variety of homeland security needs, including training, planning, first responder interoperable communications equipment and personal protective equipment on the basis of threat and vulnerability; and

Whereas, New York City is one such vulnerable community that has been at the forefront in the war against terrorism and that has borne a great portion of the accompanying burden, demonstrating the immense need for critical homeland security resources for the city’s residents and first responders; now, therefore, be it 

Resolved, That the Council of the city of New York supports the Domestic Defense Fund Act of 2005, sponsored by Senator Hillary Clinton, which aims to increase the flow of Homeland Security funds directly to local communities.