Last night, the Grand Rapids City Commission passed a resolution by a 6-1 vote calling on President Bush and Grand Rapids' federal representatives to "establish clear and aggressive timelines" for removing U.S. troops from Iraq. The resolution--which was passed following extensive debate amongst the Commissioners and input at a forum against the war--highlights the cost of the war, the damage that it has done to Iraq's infrastructure, and the service of military members from West Michigan. Aside from calling for the withdrawal of U.S. troops on a "timeline," the resolution asks for increased federal funding for cities, encourages citizens to consider "personal philanthropy" aimed at helping to rebuild Iraq, and calls for the Commission to consider granting hiring preferences to veterans. A copy of the resolution will be sent to Representative Vern Ehlers and Senators Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow.

The full text of the resolution is printed below:

WHEREAS, a group of Grand Rapids citizens has called upon the City commission to advise the Federal Government on its policies in Iraq; and

WHEREAS, members of the Grand Rapids City Commission join citizens in lamenting the injury and loss of life suffered by U.S. troops as well as Iraqi non-combatants; and

WHEREAS, the war in Iraq has damaged the physical and social infrastructure of that nation; and

WHEREAS, the members of the Grand Rapids City Commission acknowledge that they have no expertise or special competence to speak for the citizens of Grand Rapids on matters of international diplomatic and military policy; and

WHEREAS, the City Commissioners are experts in and especially competent to speak about the problems and the needs of the cities of America, and

WHEREAS, continued expenditures of the Federal Government on the Iraq War impacts the available federal resources required to provide for the urgent needs of the most vulnerable portions of the American population, including the need to provide for the health, education, and homeland security of the City of Grand Rapids and of urban areas within the United States; and

WHEREAS, in excess of $250 billion has been appropriated by Congress to fund military operations and reconstruction in Iraq, while in contrast the decrease in Community Development Block Grant funds received by the City of Grand Rapids severely lessens the ability of the City to revitalize its neighborhoods, promote homeownership opportunities, and provide critical services for the poor, seniors, children, the disabled, and most vulnerable members of our community; and

WHEREAS, the Grand Rapids City Commissioners express its complete support for the U.S. troops currently serving Iraq, as well as those that have previously served, and their families; and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Commission of Grand Rapids that

1. We salute the courage and commitment of the more than 1 million U.S. military personnel, including Grand Rapids citizens who have served in the war and occupation in Iraq, responding as they have to the Presidential call to protect our very security. These men and women of the United States military, including our own members of the Michigan National Guard, our neighbors and friends, have suffered extraordinary danger and the loneliness of long separations from home and family on our behalf and the nation’s. We now ask that these valiant warriors be returned home, safe and intact, to resume their lives, with our thanks for their sacrifices on our behalf and for the courage of their families who have waited and watched from home and the Grand Rapids City Commission calls upon the U.S. government to establish clear and aggressive timelines for the full transfer of governmental decision-making and internal security to the legitimate government of Iraq and withdraw U.S. troops from the country.

2. We call upon the President and Congress to fully fund all federal health care, job training, educational, housing, and other programs aiding veterans and their families to ensure their well being and to express the clearly earned thanks of a grateful nation.

3. The Grand Rapids City Commission calls upon the citizens of Grand Rapids to welcome returning veterans of the Iraq War and to promptly re-engage them in the life of the community.

4. Furthermore, we respectfully urge the President and Congress to begin reversing the priorities established by this war by increasing the funding of Community Development Block Grant money, fully funding Homeland Security programs, and allocating new money directly to our cities to provide for the hiring of more police officers and firefighters our first responders and the key element in protecting our country from terrorism, disasters, and other threats to our security. Such allocations would represent money previously spent in Iraq which would now be spent in solving our domestic problems.

5. The Grand Rapids City Commission calls upon the U.S. government to invest in remediating damages to the physical and social infrastructure of Iraq through accelerated investment in the reconstruction of water and sewer systems, roads, schools, hospitals and public buildings, and

6. The Grand Rapids City Commission calls upon the citizens of Grand Rapids to support the rebuilding of war-torn Iraq through personal philanthropy directed to aid organizations working in Iraq, and

7. The City of Grand Rapids in gratitude to our heroic servicemen and women, pledges it will expeditiously and strongly consider a veteran’s preference provision in its goods, services, and construction policies, and furthermore, that the City will review all of its policies and procedure to ensure that employees currently serving in our military and their families will not suffer hardship when they are called to duty.

8. That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the President of the United States and our Michigan Delegation to the United States Senate and the House of Representatives.

Grand Rapids now joins over 200 cities that have passed resolutions against the war, including Ann Arbor, Ferndale, and Kalamazoo in Michigan.