Washington, D.C. – On the heels of President Obama’s State of the Union Address (SOTU) and under the leadership of USCM Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, nearly 300 of the nation’s mayors will convene in Washington, D.C. at the Capital Hilton Hotel to engage with Administration officials, Congressional leaders business leaders to ensure the health and economic recovery of America’s cities. Â
The nation’s mayors will also hold a press conference to unveil their urban agenda – The 2016 Compact for a Better America: A Call to Action — which calls on the Presidential candidates and Congress to INVEST in and PROTECT America’s cities and metro areas.
With more than 85% of people in the United States living in our nation’s cities and metro areas, mayors clearly understand how urban issues impact everyday Americans and are calling on candidates to focus on these issues. Mayors are convinced that despite their geographic location, cities large and small across over the country are plagued by the same challenges including crumbling infrastructure, community/police relations, job creation, education, affordable housing, immigration and trade.
Highlights of the three-day session include:
Wednesday, Jan 20: Plenary Session Panel on Reducing Violence and Strengthening Police/Community Trust feat. Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu, NUL President & CEO Marc Morial and St. Louis Police Chief Colonel Dotson; U.S. Senator Inhofe (OK); U.S. Senator Ed Markey (MA); U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp (ND); Criminal and Social Justice Committee w/ DOJ COPS Office Director Ron Davis; U.S. Trade Rep. Michael Froman; Mayors Water Council; Veterans Affairs Task Force; Release of Boston University Survey of Mayors’ Policy Priorities; Cal Ripken, Jr. re Play Ball Program Anncmnt; Release of Mayoral Survey on New Energy Technologies; Acting Education Secretary John King; Mayors and Police Chiefs Task Force re responding to the mentally ill; Substance Abuse Task Force feat Boston Mayor Martin Walsh; Mayors & Metro Univ. Task Force re. Dealing with Campus Unrest & Violence feat. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer
Thursday, Jan 21:
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti; Kansas City Mayor Sly James to receive Business Leadership Award; U.S. Senator James Inhofe (OK); Labor Secretary Thomas Perez; HUD Secretary Julian Castro; Acting Commerce Secretary Jay Williams; Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, Amtrak President & CEO Joseph Boardman; 2020 Census Task Force; U.S. Manufacturing Innovation Fund Awardees Announced; Childhood Obesity Prevention Awardees Announced; Special Session on youth unemployment & tech education; President Barack Obama to Deliver Remarks to Mayors at White House
Friday, January 22: Leadership in the Arts Awards feat R&B, Jazz Recording Artist Ledisi; Update on Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture; Food Policy Task Force feat DC Mayor Bowser; Immigration Task Force re refugee resettlement; Ports and Exports Task Force re The Trans Pacific Partnership Trade Agreement; Energy & Climate Protection Task force; My Brother’s Keeper Task Force; Special Recognition of retiring Charleston Mayor Joe Riley; Dollarwi$e Financial Literacy Awards Press Guidance:
Press MUST register to attend the meeting at http://usmayors.org/83rdWinterMeeting/press_registration.asp
