Legislative Matter

Miami-Dade Legislative Item
File Number: 161026

Printable PDF Format

Clerk's Official Copy

File Number: 161026

File Type: Resolution

Status: Adopted

Version: 0

Reference: R-417-16

Control: Board of County Commissioners

File Name: SUPPORT A NEW VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL CLINIC IN HOMESTEAD

Introduced: 5/2/2016

Requester: NONE

Cost:

Final Action: 5/17/2016

Agenda Date: 5/17/2016

Agenda Item Number: 11A9

Notes:

Title:

RESOLUTION URGING THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS AND THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO ALLOCATE FUNDING TO SUPPORT A NEW VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL CLINIC IN HOMESTEAD, FLORIDA, TO SERVE ACTIVE DUTY, RESERVE AND RETIRED MILITARY PERSONNEL IN SOUTH MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

Indexes:

URGING

Sponsors:	Daniella Levine Cava, Co-Prime Sponsor
	Jose "Pepe" Diaz, Co-Prime Sponsor
	Esteban L. Bovo, Jr., Co-Sponsor
	Rebeca Sosa, Co-Sponsor
	Sen. Javier D. Souto, 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	5/17/2016	11A9	Adopted				P
REPORT:	Chairman Monestime introduced the foregoing proposed resolution into the record. Commissioner Diaz asked to be listed as a Co-Prime Sponsor. Commissioner Levine Cava explained the benefits to South Dade from enhanced programming. She noted Congresswoman Illeana Ross-Lehtinen was involved in this effort and State Representative Holly Raschein had recently introduced a similar item in Broward County, which was passed. Mr. Gustavo Cruz, Director, Military Affairs Board (MAB), presented a brief overview of MAB’s efforts to establish a clinic in the Homestead area that would serve the active, reserve, and retired armed services personnel. He stated the clinic would be positioned near Homestead Air Force Base and function as a military medical facility for the service personnel there. Mr. Shane Suzuki, Miami Veteran’s Administration Healthcare System (VA), appeared and provided the clinic’s purpose, which included addressing veteran’s medical and service needs. Commissioner Diaz expressed his appreciation to Messrs. Cruz and Suzuki for their involvement and acknowledged the efforts and team spirit of Commissioners Moss and Cava in bringing this item forward. Commissioners Sosa and Souto asked to also be listed as co-sponsors to the foregoing resolution. Hearing no further questions or comments, the Board proceeded to vote on the foregoing resolution as presented.

County Attorney	5/2/2016		Assigned	Suzanne Villano-Charif	5/9/2016

Legislative Text

TITLE
RESOLUTION URGING THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS AND THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO ALLOCATE FUNDING TO SUPPORT A NEW VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL CLINIC IN HOMESTEAD, FLORIDA, TO SERVE ACTIVE DUTY, RESERVE AND RETIRED MILITARY PERSONNEL IN SOUTH MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

BODY

WHEREAS, the Veterans Health Administration is America�s largest integrated health care system with over 1,700 sites of care serving 8.76 million veterans each year; and
WHEREAS, the Homestead Veterans Affairs Community Based Outpatient Clinic rents a medical office that is inadequate to meet the needs of the increasing military and veteran population; and
WHEREAS, the Homestead Veterans Affairs Community Based Outpatient Clinic does not offer emergency services; and
WHEREAS, it is essential to provide full medical and post-traumatic stress disorder (�PTSD�) services for active duty, reserve and retired military personnel, including veterans and eligible families who reside in South Miami-Dade County, Florida; and
WHEREAS, a Homestead Veterans Affairs Community Based Outpatient Clinic in a new location funded and established in Homestead could meet the needs of more than 10,000 veterans, retired military, active duty personnel and eligible family members and offer emergency services; and
WHEREAS, Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R � Florida) collaborated with the South Dade Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Committee to promote efforts to establish a new Veterans Affiars clinic in Homestead, Florida; and
WHEREAS, the relocation of the current Homestead Veterans Affairs Community Based Outpatient Clinic would provide expanded services and convenient access for patients in South Miami-Dade County and Monroe County; and
WHEREAS, this Board desires to urge the United States Congress and the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to fund a new Veterans Affairs medical clinic in Homestead, Florida,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board:
Section 1. Urges the United States Congress and the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to allocate funding to support a new Veterans Affairs medical clinic in Homestead, Florida to service active duty, reserve and retired military personnel in South Miami-Dade County.
Section 2. Directs the Clerk of the Board to transmit a certified copy of this resolution to Senators Bill Nelson and Marco Rubio, the members of the Miami-Dade County Congressional Delegation and the United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
Section 3. Directs the County�s federal lobbyists to advocate for the funding set forth in Section 1 above, and authorizes and directs the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs to amend the 2016 Federal Legislative Package to include this item and to include this item in the 2017 Federal Legislative Package when it is presented to the Board.