SUNNYVALE MAYOR NAMED TO HOMELAND SECURITY TASK FORCE

SUNNYVALE, Calif. – Sunnyvale Mayor Julia Miller has been named to the United States Conference of Mayors’ Homeland Security Task Force. The task force focuses on the need for direct first responder assistance for America’s cities and related issues.

Mayor Miller will also serve on the Conference’s homeland security monitoring project. The project will track the more than $2.5 billion in federal first responder funding that is flowing to the states.

"Homeland security has been an area of incredible importance to us all," said

Mayor Miller. "It is imperative federal funds continue to flow to support first responders to improve their training, equipment and ability to respond and protect our citizens. Through this task force, I will be in a position to help support the Conference of Mayors’ policy position by monitoring state – local cooperation and seeking the best examples as models for the nation."

Federal bills enacted earlier this year provided significant funding for first responders, a timetable to be followed by the Department of Homeland Security in distributing the federal funds to the states, and a timetable to be followed by the states in distributing these funds to localities.

The Conference has declared that because homeland security funding may be the most important federal funding provided to cities this year and in years ahead, the federal plan for distribution of the funds – which works through the states – must be closely monitored to determine whether it is being followed, whether it is performing adequately and whether improvements can be made.