Legislative Matter

Miami-Dade Legislative Item
File Number: 071690

Printable PDF Format

Clerk's Official Copy

File Number: 071690

File Type: Resolution

Status: Adopted

Version: 0

Reference: R-1011-07

Control: County Commission

File Name: URGING FEDERAL GOV TO REBUILD HAITI SIMILAR TO MARSHALL PLAN

Introduced: 5/31/2007

Requester: NONE

Cost:

Final Action: 9/4/2007

Agenda Date: 9/4/2007

Agenda Item Number: 11A26

Notes:

Title:

RESOLUTION URGING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO ADOPT A PLAN TO REBUILD HAITI SIMILAR TO THE MARSHALL PLAN

Indexes:	FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
	HAITIAN

Sponsors:	Dennis C. Moss, Prime Sponsor
	Rebeca Sosa, Co-Sponsor
	Audrey M. Edmonson, Co-Sponsor
	Barbara J. Jordan, Co-Sponsor
	Dorrin D. Rolle, Co-Sponsor

Sunset Provision: No

Effective Date:

Expiration Date:

Registered Lobbyist:

None Listed

Legislative History
Acting Body	Date	Agenda Item	Action	Sent To	Due Date	Returned	Pass/Fail

Board of County Commissioners	9/4/2007	11A26	Adopted				P
REPORT:	Commissioner Seijas noted she supported any efforts to assist the Caribbean Islands, especially Haiti, but would not support the use of the verbiage “the Marshall Plan” in this resolution. Commissioner Moss explained his intent for using the term “Marshall Plan” in this resolution. He noted as a result of Haiti’s immigration policies, many Haitians flee to the United States for political and/or economic reasons. He further explained the intent of this resolution was to convey a plan that urged Congress to assist in rebuilding Haiti and to create economic opportunities in Haiti that do not exist today. Commissioner Martinez stated he supported providing assistance to rebuild Haiti, but he felt the issue with the term “Marshall Plan” had to do with its past implications. Responding to Commissioner Seijas’ request for further explanation, Commissioner Moss explained the term “Marshall Plan” had been widely used as a metaphor to refer to the rebuilding of economies following World War II. He noted the intent of this resolution, basically, was to assist Haiti in rebuilding its economy, with a long-term goal to prevent people from risking their lives at sea to flee to the United States seeking economic opportunities. Commissioner Moss noted the County needed to support Haiti in rebuilding its infrastructure and creating economic opportunities there. He further noted he would not accept the proffered amendment to delete the reference to the Marshal Plan, but would proffer the foregoing resolution as drafted. Hearing no further comments, the Board proceeded to vote on the foregoing proposed resolution as presented.

Budget and Finance Committee	7/11/2007	2L	Forwarded to BCC with a favorable recommendation				P
REPORT:	Assistant County Attorney Benitez read the foregoing proposed resolution into the record. It was moved by Commissioner Sosa that this proposed resolution be forwarded with a favorable recommendation. This motion was seconded by Commissioner Sorenson. Chairman Martinez questioned whether or not the Marshall Plan was only for rebuilding countries following a war. Assistant County Attorney Benitez emphasized the words “similar to” in the title of this proposed resolution and advised that the plan for Haiti would be an economic incentive program. Commissioner Sosa suggested that the intent of this proposed resolution was to call the attention of the Federal Government to the needs of Haiti for a similar plan that would help rebuild the Country. Hearing no other questions or comments, the Committee proceeded to vote.

County Attorney	6/20/2007		Assigned	Budget and Finance Committee	7/11/2007

Budget and Finance Committee	6/12/2007	2I	Carried over due to lack of a quorum		7/11/2007

County Attorney	5/31/2007		Assigned	Jess M. McCarty		5/31/2007

County Attorney	5/31/2007		Assigned	Budget and Finance Committee	6/12/2007

Legislative Text

TITLE
RESOLUTION URGING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO ADOPT A PLAN TO REBUILD HAITI SIMILAR TO THE MARSHALL PLAN

BODY
WHEREAS, Haiti has long been the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere even though it lies only six hundred miles from the U.S.; and
WHEREAS, Haiti�s per capita gross domestic product is 40 percent (40%) lower than that of Nicaragua, which is the hemisphere's next-poorest country; and
WHEREAS, Haiti�s economy is largely on life supports, with an estimated one-quarter of the economy, or $800 million a year, consisting of money sent home by overseas Haitians; and
WHEREAS, the United Nations says approximately half of Haiti's eight million people don�t get minimum daily food requirements; and
WHEREAS, Haiti is in need of a Marshall Plan similar to the U.S. plan for rebuilding the war-torn allied countries of Europe after World War II; and
WHEREAS, a Marshall Plan for Haiti could result in a massive infusion of food, infrastructure, aid, technical help, trade preferences and other assistance; and
WHEREAS, a Marshall Plan for Haiti could serve to jump start Haiti�s economy just as the Marshall Plan did in many regions of Europe leading to several decades of growth and prosperity following World War II,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board:

Section 1. Urges the federal government to adopt a plan to rebuild Haiti similar to the Marshall Plan.
Section 2. Directs the Clerk of the Board to transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the members of the Miami-Dade County Congressional Delegation.
Section 3. Directs the County's federal lobbyists to advocate for the passage of the legislation set forth in Section 1 above, and directs the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs to include this item in the 2007 and 2008 Federal Legislative Packages.