Resolution 133-2022MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
MONROE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
RESOLUTION NO. 133 -2022
A RESOLUTION BY THE MONROE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS URGING CONGRESS TO REAUTHORIZE THE
CORAL REEF CONSERVATION ACT OF 2000; SUPPORTING S. 46
AND H.R. 160, THE RESTORING RESILIENT REEFS ACT TO
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 reefs are an 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, and 70,400 full and part-time jobs; and
WHEREAS, coral reefs are a significant habitat 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
1 meter loss in reef height, the 100-year flood plain would increase by 20 km2 imperiling 24,000 more
people and $2.913 in property 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, while Florida Reef Tract disease outbreaks are not unprecedented, the current
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 Tract have
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
Page 1 1
(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 Senator Marco Rubio and
Florida Representative Darren Soto, respectively, and are supported by the entire Florida federal
delegation; and
WHEREAS, the Restoring Resilient Reefs Act provides a 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 emergencies including disease, bleaching, natural disasters, and hazardous spills; and
WHEREAS, support for S. 46 and H.R. 160 is consistent with Monroe County's long history
of championing protections for Florida's coral reef ecosystems; and
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA:
Section 1. Monroe County urges Congress to pass S. 46 and H.R. 160, the Restoring Resilient Reef
Act, reauthorizing the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 and strengthening the federal response to
coral reef ecosystem protection, conservation and sustainability; and
Section 2. Direct the Clerk to transmit copies of this resolution to:
Senator Maria Cantwell, Chair
Commerce, Science, & Transportation Committee
254 Russell 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 20th day of April, 2022.
Mayor David Rice Yes
Mayor Pro Tem Craig Cates Yes
Commissioner Michelle Coldiron Yes
District III Commissioner vacant
Commissioner Holly Raschein Yes
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
D�
BY
Mayor Dav' ice
1N MADOK, CLERK
Lo IN`
1i - 1
Approved as to form and legal sufficiency
Robert B. Shillinger, Monroe County Attorney
Digitally signed by Robert B. Shillinger
Robert B. W DN: cn=Robert B. Shillinger, o=B.O.C.C.
/of Monroe County, FL, ou=County
Attorrnne`y, email=shillinger-
S h i l l i n e r�bob@monroecounty-fl.gov, c=US
J {1d� Date: 2022.04.0117:28:09-04'00'
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Page 13
May 4, 2022
Honorable Senator Maria Cantwell
254 Russell Senate Office Building
United States Senate
Washington DC 20510
Honorable Senator Cantwell,
Attached is a certified copy of Resolution No. 133-2022 urging Congress to reauthorize the
Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000; Supporting S. 46 and H.R. 160, the Restoring Resilient
Reefs Act to strengthen the federal response to the protection, conservation and sustainability of
coral reef ecosystems; and providing an effective date.
This Resolution was adopted by the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners at a
regular meeting, held in formal session, on April 20, 2022. Should you have any questions, please
feel free to contact me at (305) 292-3550.
Respectfully Submitted,
Kevin Madok, CPA, Clerk of the
Circuit Court and ex-officio to the
Monroe County Board of County
Commissioners
By: Liz Yongue, Deputy Clerk
cc: File
May 4, 2022
Honorable Representative Carlos Gimenez
419 Cannon House Office Building
United States House of Representatives
Washington DC 20510
Honorable Representative Gimenez,
Attached is a certified copy of Resolution No. 133-2022 urging Congress to reauthorize the
Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000; Supporting S. 46 and H.R. 160, the Restoring Resilient
Reefs Act to strengthen the federal response to the protection, conservation and sustainability of
coral reef ecosystems; and providing an effective date.
This Resolution was adopted by the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners at a
regular meeting, held in formal session, on April 20, 2022. Should you have any questions, please
feel free to contact me at (305) 292-3550.
Respectfully Submitted,
Kevin Madok, CPA, Clerk of the
Circuit Court and ex-officio to the
Monroe County Board of County
Commissioners
By: Liz Yongue, Deputy Clerk
cc: File
May 4, 2022
Honorable Senator Marco Rubio
284 Russell Senate Office Building
United States Senate
Washington DC 20510
Honorable Senator Rubio,
Attached is a certified copy of Resolution No. 133-2022 urging Congress to reauthorize the
Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000; Supporting S. 46 and H.R. 160, the Restoring Resilient
Reefs Act to strengthen the federal response to the protection, conservation and sustainability of
coral reef ecosystems; and providing an effective date.
This Resolution was adopted by the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners at a
regular meeting, held in formal session, on April 20, 2022. Should you have any questions, please
feel free to contact me at (305) 292-3550.
Respectfully Submitted,
Kevin Madok, CPA, Clerk of the
Circuit Court and ex-officio to the
Monroe County Board of County
Commissioners
By: Liz Yongue, Deputy Clerk
cc: File
May 4, 2022
Honorable Senator Rick Scott
502 Hart Senate Office Building
United States Senate
Washington DC 20510
Honorable Senator Scott,
Attached is a certified copy of Resolution No. 133-2022 urging Congress to reauthorize the
Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000; Supporting S. 46 and H.R. 160, the Restoring Resilient
Reefs Act to strengthen the federal response to the protection, conservation and sustainability of
coral reef ecosystems; and providing an effective date.
This Resolution was adopted by the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners at a
regular meeting, held in formal session, on April 20, 2022. Should you have any questions, please
feel free to contact me at (305) 292-3550.
Respectfully Submitted,
Kevin Madok, CPA, Clerk of the
Circuit Court and ex-officio to the
Monroe County Board of County
Commissioners
By: Liz Yongue, Deputy Clerk
cc: File