[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Page 14075]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       NATIONAL SMALL CITIES DAY

  Mr. DASCHLE. Madam President, the National League of Cities, led by 
Mayor Brenda Barger of Watertown, SD, has designated June 20, 2003, as 
the third annual National Small Cities Day to call attention to the 
role of small cities and towns in American life.
  The vast majority of cities throughout our Nation have populations of 
fewer than 50,000 people. These communities play an essential role in 
nurturing families, cultivating values, building a strong sense of 
commitment and connection, and ensuring safety and security.
  Millions of Americans live better lives because small cities and 
towns provide services and programs that meet the needs of their 
citizens. Particularly during these difficult times in our Nation's 
history, these Americans have looked to the leaders of their small 
communities to ensure their safety and security. Partnering with other 
levels of government, small cities work hard to provide helpful and 
reliable information about national issues affecting hometown America, 
and to maintain confidence in our American way of life. Often, they 
carry out their vital responsibilities with limited staff and tight 
budgets but with enormous goodwill and close connections to the 
citizens they serve every day. The leaders of the Nation's small cities 
and towns are indeed on the front lines in addressing many of our 
Nation's most pressing problems.
  Businesses, civic organizations, and citizens across the Nation are 
partners in strengthening hometown America, and must be encouraged to 
continue to support efforts that make these cities and towns such great 
places to live. The Federal Government, too, must continue to be a good 
partner by funding important Federal programs that support small cities 
and towns such as the Community Development Block Grant Program, the 
Community Oriented Policing Services Program, and local and regional 
homeland security planning and preparedness.
  We must continue to work together and look for ways to further 
strengthen our small cities and towns through creativity, innovation, 
and, above all, collaboration. I join the National League of Cities and 
the Small Cities Council in encouraging President Bush, my 
congressional colleagues, State governments, community organizations, 
businesses, and citizens to honor the efforts of ``small town America'' 
and renew our commitment to work together on this day and in the future 
to strengthen our small cities and towns, and to recognize their 
essential role in our intergovernmental partnership.

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