Ensuring that residents can live and work in a safe and healthy environment is one of the highest priorities that cities have. In order for local emergency personnel to be the first to respond to a terrorist-based attack or a natural disaster, local elected officials must ensure there is full federal funding for both traditional public safety programs and homeland security activities.
The National League of Cities lobbies Congress and the Administration to increase or maintain funding support to strengthen both hometown and homeland security and develops extensive policy on these issues. The National League of Cities reports the results of surveys on municipal responses to terrorism regarding vulnerable targets and the need for federal guidance and support. A variety of NLC publications also offer practical guidance to local officials to assist in their ongoing efforts to develop and refine local and regional homeland security plans.
Click here for the Fiscal Year 2007 Budget Proposal for Homeland Security and Public Safety.
Advocacy
? 2006 National Municipal Policy
? PSCP Policy Chapter
? PSCP Resolutions
Testimony
March 1, 2006 Testimony of Mayor Robert Drake, Beaverton, OR, before the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Science and Technology.
Programs & Services
? Avian and Pandemic Flu Info and Resources
City Knowledge Network
NLC's City Practices collection describes local government programs and practices in cities and towns across the nation on a variety of topics like community policing, emergency contingency planning, crime prevention, and alternatives to incarceration.
? View a few sample descriptions
? Search the entire City Practices collection.
Publications
? Homeland Security: Lessons Learned from the September 11 Terrorist Attack
? Protecting Hometown America: Lessons Learned from and for Small Cities and Towns
? SARS: Lessons Learned for America's Cities an Towns
? Promoting and Protecting Healthy Communities: A City Officials Guide to Public Health ?
Nation's Cities Weekly Articles
2006
1/30/ 2006 NLC To Be Lead Sponsor for Disaster Recovery Conference
2005
May 30, 2005 Public Safety Committee Stresses Importance of Information Sharing
May 23, 2005 House Passes Homeland Security Measures
May 16, 2005 Special Report: Hometown & Homeland Security
May 16, 2005 Public Safety Center Provides Training for First Responders
May 16, 2005 Examples Database: Homeland Security
April 18, 2005 Mock Terrorist Attack Test Response Capabilities
April 18, 2005 Senate Committee Passes First Responder Grants Bill
April 4, 2005 Anderson Represents NLC on Homeland Security Committee
Committees & Councils
2006 Public Safety and Crime Prevention Policy and Advocacy Committee
Related Events
NLC co-sponsored Restoration 2006: Community and Economic Recovery After a Disaster in partnership with the International City/County Management Association and National Association of Counties. This new conference was held May 16-17, 2006 at the Sheraton New Orleans, and focused on post-disaster community and economic redevelopment. Visit the website registration for details www.restoration2006.org .