HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution No. 5040COUNCIL RESOLUTION NO.. 5040
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,
PASSED: 7:1
REJECTED:
OPPOSED::. Pat Farr
ABSENT:
CONSIDERED: June 27, 2011
RESOLUTION No. 5040
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 these wars —
including at least 128 from Oregon—and more than 120,000 civilians have been killed in Iraq and.
Afghanistan since the coalition operations began, thousands more U.S. military personnel and
Iraqi and Afghan civilians have suffered devastating physical and mental injuries, and those
countries have experienced 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 increased significantly since 1998 to a staggering $725.
billion —not including indirect military spending by other agencies —more than all other
discretionary spending combined.
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 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 16,159 military veterans in Eugene; or more than 17,000 one -year scholarships for university
students, according to the National Priorities Project.
Now, THEREFORE,
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 speed up the ending of these wars by beginning withdrawal of forces in a
safe, rapid and orderly fashion that fully protects American troops from harm and to support
efforts led by international organizations to rebuild both countries.
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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 Iraq and
Afghanistan wars and to vote against further funding of military actions, 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 both countries.
Section 3 . The financial resources used to finance the war be redirected, if they become
available to the City of Eugene, to the following priority list: full benefits for returning veterans
and veterans of all wars; increase funding to the Eugene Police and Fire Departments" increase
workforce development and job creation; rebuilding of our infrastructure; public health and
social safety net; and support environmental cleanup and alternative energy programs.
Section 4 . A suitable copy of this resolution shall be sent to Barack Gbama, President of
the United States, the members of the Oregon Congressional delegation, the Oregon State
Legislature, and Oregon Governor John Kitzh.aber.
Section 5 . This Resolution is effective immediately upon its passage by the City
Council.
The foregoing Resolution adopted the 27 day of June, 2011.
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IN
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