Convention Cities Need Security Funding

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Bipartisan members of the Colorado and Minnesota House Delegations today urged the leadership of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Appropriations to include the necessary security funds in the 2008 Appropriations bills for both the 2008 Democratic and Republican Conventions. Congresswomen Diana DeGette of Denver, home of the 2008 Democratic National Convention, and Betty McCollum of St. Paul, home to the Republican National Convention, spearheaded a joint delegation letter sent today to both the House and Appropriations Committee leadership.

"It is extremely important the 2008 convention cities of Denver and St. Paul get the necessary security funds upfront and early enough," said DeGette. "We are working aggressively to ensure that some of the money is part of the 2008 Appropriations bills. We need at least some of the money upfront in order to start formulating plans and signing security contracts. We need to get enough, early enough."

The funds requested will be used to reimburse state and local law enforcement for the costs associated with providing security at the 2008 National Conventions.