REPLACEMENT FOR ITEM # 39

 

 

INTRODUCED BY	COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL
Luis E. Cotto, Councilperson	City of Hartford, March 10, 2008
Larry Deutsch, Minority Leader

 

 

WHEREAS, The City of Hartford unequivocally supports the men and women in uniform from Hartford and the whole of the United States who are stationed overseas in Iraq. These individuals are making unimaginable sacrifices for their country; and

 

WHEREAS, The City of Hartford mourns and honors the approximately 4,000 Americans who have given their lives and almost 30,000 Americans who have been wounded during deployment in Iraq, and

 

WHEREAS, This March marks the fifth anniversary of the war in Iraq; and

 

WHEREAS, The Court of Common Council expresses its deep opposition to the Bush Administration’s continuation of the war in Iraq after its mendacious and deceptive methods of garnering initial support; and

 

WHEREAS, the City of Hartford relies heavily on Federal money to provide services to its residents; and

 

WHEREAS, The United States Congress has appropriated over $400 billion to fund military operations and Iraqi reconstruction, while a steady decline in Federal Housing and Urban Development grants has been experienced since 2002, the year before the war began; and

 

WHEREAS, The City of Hartford relies heavily on HUD grants to pay for its social services. As work begins on this year’s budget, the estimated $196 million that the war has cost the City will undoubtedly hamper its ability to provide for its needs in the education, healthcare, housing, economic, infrastructural and cultural sectors; now, therefore, be it

 

RESOLVED, That the Court of Common Council will continue to support the troops currently serving in Iraq and their families; and be it further

 

RESOLVED, That the Court of Common Council will do all it can to help care for those who have been wounded or injured in the line of duty, and support those who are grieving at the loss of a loved one; and be it further

 

RESOLVED, That the Court of Common Council communicates its desire to the members of Congress to end the war in Iraq and draw down the combat troops stationed in that country; and be it further

 

RESOLVED, That the Court of Common Council urges the Federal government to pursue solutions to our country’s domestic issues with the same zeal it pursued the invasion of Iraq; and be it further

 

RESOLVED, That at the second meeting of each month of the Council as a whole, after the Pledge of Allegiance and prayer, time is taken to suitably honor those serving and those who have lost their lives in the conflict and communicate information about the continuing fiscal and humanitarian costs to the City of Hartford; and be it further

 

RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted by the City Clerk to the President of the United States, the presiding officers of both Houses of Congresses, members of the Connecticut General Assembly, and be made available to other municipal councils and executives in the State of Connecticut.