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RESOLUTION SUPPORTING S.2975, THE �ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2019,� OR SIMILAR LEGISLATION PENDING BEFORE, OR FILED FOR CONSIDERATION IN, THE 115TH UNITED STATES CONGRESS THAT WOULD APPROPRIATE FUNDING FOR CRITICAL FLORIDA ENVIRONMENTAL AND INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS ADMINISTERED BY THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS

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WHEREAS, S.2975, the �Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2019,� has been introduced in the 115th Congress by U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R � Tennessee); and
WHEREAS, the �Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2019� would appropriate funding for energy and water development and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2019; and
WHEREAS, among other projects, the bill would appropriate funding to several projects of critical importance to the State of Florida, and to Miami-Dade County in particular; and
WHEREAS, to further Florida Everglades restoration efforts, the �Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2019� would include the following appropriations:
* full funding of $67 million for the Herbert Hoover Dike Rehabilitation project at Lake Okeechobee;
* up to $45 million to the U.S Army Corps of Engineers for discretionary spending to operate, maintain, and repair key Florida Everglades restoration infrastructure; and
* up to $50 million to the U.S Army Corps of Engineers for discretionary spending to advance critical construction for the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration project; and
WHEREAS, the bill would additionally include significant appropriations for beach renourishment (up to $50 million), shoreline protection, environmental infrastructure, and intracoastal and inland waterways maintenance; and
WHEREAS, the bill would also appropriate $6.07 million, plus additional donor port funding, to PortMiami for the operation and maintenance of infrastructure in support of waterborne trade and commerce; and
WHEREAS, many of these key provisions were advanced with the assistance of U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R � Florida), who is a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee that recently approved the legislation; and
WHEREAS, Senator Rubio has stated that he �joined the [Senate] Appropriations Committee to ensure the Senate adequately funds the Florida projects in this bill, including the Herbert Hoover Dike Rehabilitation, Everglades restoration, and water quality improvement programs in the Keys and Charlotte Harbor�; and
WHEREAS, the �Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2019,� if enacted, could benefit Miami-Dade County�s critical environmental and economic interests; and
WHEREAS, this Board now wishes to support the proposed legislation,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board:
Section 1. Supports S.2975, the �Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2019,� or similar legislation pending before, or filed for consideration in, the 115th United States Congress that would appropriate funding for critical Florida environmental and infrastructure projects administered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Section 2. Directs the Clerk of the Board to transmit certified copies of this resolution to U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander and the members of the Florida Congressional Delegation.
Section 3. Directs the County�s federal lobbyists to advocate for the legislation described in Section 1 above, and directs the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs to include this item in the 2018 Federal Legislative Package when it is presented to the Board.