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RESOLUTION URGING THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS NECESSARY TO PROVIDE PAY TO UNITED STATES MILITARY PERSONNEL DURING ANY FUTURE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWNS; URGING THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO ENACT H.R. 1928, S. 2430, THE FAMILIES OF FALLEN SERVICEMEMBERS FIRST ACT, OR SIMILAR LEGISLATION THAT PROVIDES A PERMANENT APPROPRIATION FOR PAYMENT OF DEATH GRATUITIES AND RELATED BENEFITS TO SURVIVORS OF DECEASED MEMBERS OF THE UNIFORMED SERVICES DURING ANY FUTURE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWNS

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WHEREAS, the United States government shut down from midnight on January�20, 2018, until the evening hours on Monday, January 22, 2018; and
WHEREAS, during this period of shutdown, the 1.3 million members of the uniformed United States Military continued to work but faced uncertainty as to whether they would be paid on a regular basis should the shutdown continue; and
WHEREAS, additionally, during this period of shutdown, there was no appropriation for federal death benefits, which assist families of deceased service members in meeting their financial needs during the period immediately following a service member�s death and before other survivor benefits become available; and
WHEREAS, the United States government also previously shut down from October 1, 2013, until October 17, 2013, and
WHEREAS, on September 30, 2013, just before the 2013 shutdown began, the United States Congress passed and President Barack Obama signed H.R. 3210, the Pay Our Military Act, that appropriated money to pay the United States military personnel despite the shutdown; and
WHEREAS, after the 2013 shutdown, the United States Congress passed and President Barack Obama signed H.R. 91, the Honoring Families of Fallen Soldiers Act, which provided a continuing appropriation for military survivor death benefits, but only for fiscal year 2014; and
WHEREAS, on April 5, 2017, Congressman Gerald E. Connolly (D-Virginia) introduced the Families of Fallen Servicemembers First Act, H.R. 1928, for consideration during the 115th Congress; and
WHEREAS, on February 14, 2018, Senator Christopher A. Coons (D-Delaware) introduced the identical Senate companion bill, S. 2430, for consideration during the 115th Congress; and
WHEREAS, H.R. 1928 and S. 2430 provide a permanent appropriation of funds for the payment of death gratuities and related benefits for survivors of deceased members of the uniformed services in event of any period of lapsed appropriations; and
WHEREAS, on January 19, 2018, Senator Richard Durbin (D-Illinois) introduced the Pay Our Military Act of 2018, S. 2328, for consideration during the 115th Congress; and
WHEREAS, on January 20, 2018, Congresswoman Betty McCollum (D-Minnesota) introduced the identical House Companion Bill, H.R. 4871, for consideration during the 115th Congress; and
WHEREAS, S. 2328 and H.R. 4871 provide fiscal year 2018 appropriations for military pay during any period in which interim or full-year appropriations for fiscal year 2018 are not in effect; and
WHEREAS, all four of these bills are currently pending before the 115th Congress; and WHEREAS, threats to the United States continue during a government shutdown; and
WHEREAS, the United States Military personnel dedicate their lives to defending our country, and the United States government should continue to pay these military personnel and provide federal death benefits during any government shutdown; and
WHEREAS, this Board supports the United States military personnel and wishes to ensure all troops are paid for their service even during a federal government shutdown,
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 to appropriate funds necessary to provide pay to United States military personnel during any future government shutdowns.
Section 2. Urges the United States Congress to enact H.R. 1928, S. 2439, the Families of Fallen Servicemembers First Act, or similar legislation that provides a permanent appropriation for payment of death gratuities and related benefits to survivors of deceased members of the uniformed services during any future government shutdowns.
Section 3. Directs the Clerk of the Board to transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the members of the Florida Congressional Delegation and the U.S. Secretary of Defense.
Section 4. Directs the County�s federal lobbyists to advocate for the action set forth in Sections 1 and 2 above, and authorizes and directs the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs to include this item in the 2018 Federal Legislative Package when it is presented to the Board.