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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 3: Resolution 5040 Expressing Council"s Desire that War Funds Be Directed to Domestic Priorities ECC UGENE ITY OUNCIL AIS GENDA TEM UMMARY Action: Adoption of Resolution 5040 Expressing the City Council’s Desire that Funds to Continue the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars Be Directed to Domestic Priorities, Including Pressing Needs in the City of Eugene Meeting Date: July 27, 2011 Agenda Item Number: 3 Department: Central Services Staff Contact: Keli Osborn www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 541-682-5406 ISSUE STATEMENT This action item has been set to consider adoption of a resolution expressing support for redirecting funds from U.S. wars in Afghanistan and Iraq toward domestic priorities, including needs in Eugene. BACKGROUND In early June, Councilor George Brown provided a draft resolution to the Mayor and City Council at the request of the Community Alliance of Lane County (CALC), indicating his intention to request support for a resolution calling on the federal government to bring “war funds home.” The U.S. Conference of Mayors on June 20, 2011, debated and ultimately adopted a resolution on this matter. RELATED CITY POLICIES Council Goal for Fair, Stable and Adequate Financial Resources COUNCIL OPTIONS The council may: 1. Approve resolution 2. Modify and then approve resolution 3. Do not approve resolution CITY MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION The City Manager makes no recommendation. SUGGESTED MOTION 5040 I move to approve “Resolution Expressing the City Council’s Desire that Funds to Continue the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars Be Directed to Domestic Priorities, Including the Pressing Needs in the City of Eugene.” \\Cesrv500\cc support\CMO\2011 Council Agendas\M110627\S1106273.doc -OR- 5040 I move to approve “Resolution Expressing the City Council’s Desire that Funds to Continue the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars Be Directed to Domestic Priorities, Including the Pressing Needs in the City of Eugene” with the following modifications: ATTACHMENTS A. Resolution Regarding Federal “War Funds” and Domestic Priorities FOR MORE INFORMATION Staff Contact: Keli Osborn Telephone: 541-682-5406 Staff E-Mail: keli.m.osborn@ci.eugene.or.us \\Cesrv500\cc support\CMO\2011 Council Agendas\M110627\S1106273.doc ATTACHMENT A RESOLUTION NO. _____ A RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE CITY COUNCIL’S DESIRE THAT FUNDS TO CONTINUE THE IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN WARS BE DIRECTED TO DOMESTIC PRIORITIES, INCLUDING PRESSING NEEDS IN THE CITY OF EUGENE. The City Council of the City of Eugene finds that: A. The severity of the nation’s ongoing economic crisis requires that the government of the United States use its financial resources to rebuild our society, aiding state and local governments in maintaining and restoring public services, social services, and programs, including education, health care, the social safety net, and public safety; support environmental clean-up and alternative energy programs; rebuild our physical infrastructure, and take urgent measures to support job creation in both the private and public sectors. B. More than 6,000 members of the U.S. armed forces have died in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars—including at least 128 from Oregon—and more than 120,000 civilians have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan since the coalition attacks began. Thousands more U.S. military personnel and countless Iraqi and Afghan civilians have suffered devastating physical and mental disabilities, and those countries have experienced severe physical destruction and environmental degradation. C. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have cost the United States more than $1.1 trillion and cost Eugene more than $341 million. D. The Pentagon’s budget has doubled since 1998 to a staggering $725 billion—not including indirect military spending by other agencies—more than all other discretionary spending combined. The military budget is far in excess of what is necessary to maintain a reasonable level of security for the United States and its allies, and the U.S. public, in recent polls, supports cutting military spending. E. The more than $341 million spent by Eugene taxpayers to date on the Iraq and Afghan wars could have provided one year's Head Start for nearly 22,821 Eugene children; or one year's low-income health care for more than 66,339 Eugene children; or one year's salary for more than 2,000 public school elementary teachers in Eugene; or one year of VA medical care for 16,169 military veterans in Eugene; or more than 17,000 one-year scholarships for university students, according to the National Priorities Project. NOW, THEREFORE, Resolution Page 1 of 2 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EUGENE, a Municipal Corporation of the State of Oregon, as follows: Section 1 . The Council of the City of Eugene, on behalf of the people of Eugene, urge President Obama to adhere to the Status of Forces Agreement signed by Iraq and the United States that states that all U.S. troops must leave Iraq by Dec. 31, 2011. Section 2 . The Council of the City of Eugene, on behalf of the people of Eugene, urge Oregon's Congressional delegation to vote for legislation to speed up the ending of the Afghanistan occupation by U.S. forces and to vote against further funding of the occupation, except for funds necessary to carry out a safe, rapid, and orderly withdrawal that fully protects American troops from harm, and to support efforts led by international organizations to rebuild Afghanistan. Section 3 . The financial resources used to prosecute the war be redirected, as they become available, to address the urgent needs of the most vulnerable portions of Eugene’s population, including education, health, and full benefits for returning veterans, as well as to fund the creation of jobs, full functioning of schools, rebuilding of our infrastructure, and development of non-carbon-producing alternatives for our energy needs. Section 4 . A suitable copy of this resolution shall be sent to Barack Obama, President of the United States, the members of the Oregon Congressional delegation, the Oregon State legislature, and Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber. Section 5 . This Resolution is effective immediately upon its passage by the City Council. The foregoing Resolution adopted the ____ day of ____________________, 2011. ________________________ Deputy City Recorder Resolution Page 2 of 2