President Bush: Don't Put DC Security in Peril   On January 20, 2005, thousands of Bush supporters and opponents will converge on Washington, DC for inaugural events. For the first time in history, no money will be available to the District of Columbia for security costs. Instead, the federal government has instructed the DC government to use nearly $12 million in homeland security funds for inaugural security. Tell President Bush that needed homeland security funds for our nation's capital shouldn't be spent on inauguration security.   In the past, a special appropriation was used to cover inaugural expenses. This year, the Bush administration broke with tradition and required the District to pay for security related costs. This will require the DC government to take $11.9 million from homeland security funds earmarked for other security needs, such as increasing hospital capacity and providing adequate firefighter gear.   Our nation's capital is a prime target for terrorist attacks. The District of Columbia is home to so much of our nation's history. Tell President Bush to help protect that history by reimbursing the District for inaugural security expenses.   >>Learn More Learn More: D.C. Pushes to be Paid for Security, The Washington Post (free subscription required) Van Hollen and Members of the D.C. Area Congressional Delegation Urge President Bush to Help Pick Up Inauguration Tab U.S. Tells D.C. to Pay Inaugural Expenses, The Washington Post (free subscription required)

November 22, 2009 Subject: Dear President Bush: I am deeply concerned that DC is being forced to spend nearly $12 million out of its homeland security funds to pay for security at your inaugural celebration. This break with the traditional appropriations provided to the District for costs associated with the inauguration places important homeland security measures, such as increasing hospital capacity and improving firefighter safety gear, in peril. Our nation's capital is a prime target for terrorist attacks. It is appalling that DC is being forced to take much needed homeland security funds to pay for inaugural security. The District of Columbia is home to so much of our nation's history. Please help protect that history by reimbursing the District for inaugural security costs. We will add your signature from the information you provide.		First Name* Last Name* Email* Street* Street 2 City* State/Province* Select a state Alabama Alaska American Samoa Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware D.C. Florida Georgia Guam Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Northern Mariana Islands Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Puerto Rico Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virgin Islands Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Armed Forces (the) Americas Armed Forces Europe Armed Forces Pacific Alberta British Columbia Manitoba Newfoundland New Brunswick Nova Scotia Northwest Territories Nunavut Ontario Prince Edward Island Quebec Saskatchewan Yukon Territory Other Zip/Postal Code*