TITLE
RESOLUTION URGING THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO ENACT S. 1957, THE FLORIDA GASOLINE SUPPLY RESERVE ACT, OR SIMILAR LEGISLATION THAT WOULD REQUIRE THE UNITED STATES SECRETARY OF ENERGY TO ESTABLISH, MAINTAIN AND OPERATE A GASOLINE SUPPLY RESERVE WITHIN THE STATE OF FLORIDA

BODY
WHEREAS, in the days leading to Hurricane Irma making landfall, high demand for gasoline sparked major gas shortages throughout the State of Florida; and
WHEREAS, approximately 60 percent of the gas stations in Miami, Ft. Lauderdale and Gainesville were without fuel and about 50 percent of the gas stations in Jacksonville, Tampa, West Palm Beach and Fort Myers were also left empty; and
WHEREAS, a shortage of this magnitude poses serious concerns; and
WHEREAS, Florida residents need gasoline to not only evacuate the entire state or local area where a storm is forecasted to hit but to also return after a storm strike; and
WHEREAS, Florida relies heavily on its ports to receive fuel shipments; however, ports are often closed in the wake of major storms, thus leading to fuel crises similar to the shortage residents experienced during Hurricane Irma; and
WHEREAS, a gasoline supply reserve within the State of Florida would ensure that residents and first responders have access to an emergency supply of fuel, assist in future recovery efforts and help prevent the shortages that may have kept some residents from evacuating; and
WHEREAS, on October 5, 2017, United States Senator Bill Nelson (D � FL) introduced a bill, Senate 1957 (�S. 1957�), titled the Florida Gasoline Supply Reserve Act, for consideration during the 115th United States Congress; and
WHEREAS, S. 1957 would, among other things:
(1) require the United States Secretary of Energy to establish, maintain and operate a reserve of refined petroleum products, to be known as the Florida Gasoline Supply Reserve;
(2) require that, to the extent possible, a supply reserve be located on the east coast of the state and another on the west coast of the state; and
(3) require that the Florida Gasoline Supply Reserve contain a minimum of 1,000,000 barrels of refined petroleum products; and
WHEREAS, to avoid another gas shortage, this Board would like to urge the United States Congress to enact the Florida Gasoline Supply Reserve Act,
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 enact S. 1957, the Florida Gasoline
Supply Reserve Act, or similar legislation that would require the United States Secretary of Energy to establish, maintain and operate a gasoline supply reserve within the State of Florida.

Section 2. Directs the Clerk of the Board to transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the President of the United States, to the Members of the Florida Congressional Delegation and to the United States Secretary of Energy.
Section 3. Directs the County�s federal lobbyists to advocate for the legislation set forth in Section 1 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.