Item M5
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BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
C ounty of M onroe
Mayor David Rice, District 4
Mayor Pro Tem Craig Cates, District 1
The Florida Keys
Michelle Coldiron, District 2
Vacant, District 3
Holly Merrill Raschein, District 5
County Commission Meeting
April 20, 2022
Agenda Item Number: M.5
Agenda Item Summary #10438
BULK ITEM: No DEPARTMENT: BOCC District 2
TIME APPROXIMATE: STAFF CONTACT: Jennifer Garcia 3052924512
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AGENDA ITEM WORDING: Approval of resolution in support of S. 46 and H.R. 160, The
Restoring Resilient Reefs Act, federal legislation reauthorizing the Coral Reef Conservation
Reauthorization Act of 2000, increasing federal investment and strengthening federal response to the
protection, conservation and sustainability of coral reef ecosystems.
ITEM BACKGROUND: The Florida Reef Tract that spans the Southeast Florida coast plays a
significant economic and ecological role in the State of Florida, and in Florida Keys, and has
faced unprecedented disease outbreak. At the federal level, there have been limited resources to
address this disease outbreak and the overall health of coral reefs. Congress passed the Coral
Reef Conservation Act in 2000, which authorized appropriations to the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for coral reef protection and management activities
through 2004.
While the authorization for the overall program expired in 2004, Congress has continued to fund
coral reef protection through the annual appropriations process. However, without authorization,
annual funding for coral reel programs is uncertain, and leaves the federal agencies that oversee
coral reef protection without the authorization or resources to help address coral reef
emergencies, such as the coral bleaching disease outbreak in Florida.
The new legislation would authorize recurring, increased funding next five years, direct some of
those funds to state and locals so that they can help drive priorities and management of coral reef
protection and restoration, strengthen the federal response to coral reef emergencies, and will
help the State of Florida restore, protect, and conserve the Florida reef tract and surrounding
ecosystem.
The bills have passed out of their respective House and Senate committees and are currently on
the floors of their respective chambers.
The Senate bill is sponsored by Florida Sen. Rubio, the House bill is sponsored by Florida Rep.
Soto, and the legislation is supported by the entire Florida federal delegation.
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PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION:
CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES:
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STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
DOCUMENTATION:
Reso Supporting S. 46 and H.R. 160 Reauthorization of Coral Reef Conservation Act
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Effective Date:
Expiration Date:
Total Dollar Value of Contract:
Total Cost to County:
Current Year Portion:
Budgeted:
Source of Funds:
CPI:
Indirect Costs:
Estimated Ongoing Costs Not Included in above dollar amounts:
Revenue Producing: If yes, amount:
Grant:
County Match:
Insurance Required:
Additional Details:
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REVIEWED BY:
Michelle Coldiron Completed 03/31/2022 2:54 PM
Bob Shillinger Completed 04/01/2022 5:29 PM
Lindsey Ballard Completed 04/04/2022 3:24 PM
Board of County Commissioners Pending 04/20/2022 9:00 AM
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MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
MONROE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
RESOLUTION NO. _____-2022
ARESOLUTIONBY THE MONROE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERSURGING CONGRESS TO REAUTHORIZE THE
CORAL REEF CONSERVATION ACT OF 2000; SUPPORTING S. 46
AND H.R. 160, THE RESTORING RESILIENT REEFS ACTTO
STRENGTHEN THE FEDERAL RESPONSE TO THE PROTECTION,
CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY OF CORAL REEF
ECOSYSTEMS;AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS,from tourism to marine recreation and sport fishing, coral reefsarean important
part of the State of Florida’s ocean economy, and play a central role in the economies of Southeast
Florida’s communities, including the Florida Keys. NOAA suggests that coral reefs in southeast
Florida have an asset value of $8.5 billion, generating $4.4 billion in local sales, $2 billion in local
income, and70,400 full and part-time jobs; and
WHEREAS, coral reefs are a significant habit for fisheries. In the United States, about half of
all federally managed fisheries depend on coral reefs. NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service
estimates the annual commercial value of U.S. fisheries from coral reefs to be over $100 million. Reef-
based recreational fisheries generate over $100 million annually in the United States; and
WHEREAS, coral reefs act like submerged breakwaters by breaking wave and dissipating their
energy offshore before they flood coastal properties and communities and enormously valuable
function for hurricane prone areas like Florida and according the USGS Florida reefs provide flood
protection to more than 5,600 people and $675M in averted property and economic activity and with a
2
1 meter loss in reef height, the 100-year flood plain would increase by 20 kmimperiling 24,000 more
people and $2.9B inproperty and economic activity; and
WHEREAS, the Florida Reef Tract, nearly 150-miles long and 4-miles wide and stretching from
the Dry Tortugas in Monroe County to Martin County is the world's third-largest barrier reef; and the
only living coral reef in the continental United States; and
WHEREAS,massive, region-wide bleaching events have become more common on the Florida
Reef Tract. Since 1987, six extensive coral bleaching events have affected the entire tract. Substantial
mass coral mortality occurred during the global bleaching events; and
WHEREAS, whileFlorida Reef Tract disease outbreaks are not unprecedented, thecurrent
disease event is unique due to its scale, high infection rate, and rapid spread;the number of coral species
affected across such a large portion of the Florida Reef Tract, estimated to have resulted in the mortality
of millions of corals; and
WHEREAS, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reports that
diseases and diminishing health condition among corals throughout the Florida Reef Tracthave
dramatically increased; and
WHEREAS, at the federal level there have been limited resources to address this disease
outbreak and the overall health of coral reefs.Congress passed the Coral Reef Conservation Act in
2000, which authorized appropriations to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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(NOAA) for coral reef protection and management activities through 2004.Authorization for the
overall program expired in 2004 but Congress has continued to fund the CRCP through the annual
appropriations process; and
WHEREAS,the Senate and House bills are sponsored by Florida SenatorMarco Rubio and
Florida Representative Darren Soto, respectively,and are supported by the entire Florida federal
delegation; and
WHEREAS, the Restoring Resilient Reefs Act providesa five year authorization for federal
funding, provides increased funding,provides statutory authority for the US Coral Reef Taskforce to
lead, coordinate and strengthen federal government actions to preserve and restore coral reef systems,
and directs federal funding and technical assistance so states and impacted communities can drive
priorities and management of coral reef ecosystems; and
WHEREAS, the Restoring Resilient Reefs Act specifically strengthens the federal response to
coral reef emergenciesincluding disease, bleaching, natural disasters, and hazardous spills; and
WHEREAS,support forS. 46 and H.R.160isconsistent with MonroeCounty’s long history
of championing protections for Florida’s coral reef ecosystems; and
NOW,THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THEBOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA:
Section 1.Monroe County urges Congress to pass S.46and H.R. 160, the Restoring Resilient Reef
Act, reauthorizingthe Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 and strengthening the federal response to
coral reef ecosystem protection, conservation and sustainability; and
Section 2.Directthe Clerk to transmit copies of this resolution to:
Senator Maria Cantwell, Chair
Commerce, Science, &TransportationCommittee
254Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Senator Marco Rubio
284 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Senator Rick Scott
502 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Representative Carlos Gimenez
419 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Section 3.This resolution shall become effective upon adoption.
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PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida,at a
regular meeting held on the 20thday of April, 2022.
Mayor David Rice______
Mayor Pro TemCraig Cates______
Commissioner Michelle Coldiron______
District III Commissionervacant
Commissioner Holly Raschein ______
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
BY______________________________
Mayor David Rice
(SEAL)
ATTEST: KEVIN MADOK, CLERK
_________________________________
DEPUTY CLERK
Approved as to form and legal sufficiency
Robert B. Shillinger, Monroe County Attorney
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