HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem S03 BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
COUNTY of MONROE Mayor Michelle Lincoln,District 2
The Florida. Keys Mayor Pro Tem David Rice,District 4
p Craig Cates,District I
James K. Scholl,District 3
- Holly Merrill Raschein,District 5
Regular Meeting
June 10, 2026
Agenda Item Number: S3
26-3225 l
BULK ITEM: No DEPARTMENT: Administration
TIME APPROXIMATE: TBD STAFF CONTACT: Lisa Tennyson
AGENDA ITEM WORDING:
Discussion and approval of the 2026-2027 Monroe County Federal Legislative Agenda. TIME
APPROXIMATE 9:35 A.M.
ITEM BACKGROUND:
Each year, the County develops a federal legislative agenda. Attached for your review and approval is
the 2026-27 Federal Legislative Agenda.
The agenda includes a proposed list of substantive federal legislative priorities and welcomes the
addition or deletion of issues that the Board deems appropriate for the County's federal legislative
efforts.
This year's agenda includes concerns related to proposed changes to federal disaster policy. The May
2026 release of the FEMA Review Council's Final Report recommends fundamental changes to how
the federal government responds to and recovers from disasters including changes to disaster
declaration thresholds, Public Assistance cost shares, Individual Assistance eligibility, and the
National Flood Insurance Program. Many of these proposals would fall hardest on small coastal
counties like Monroe. The agenda addresses these proposals directly, identifying those Monroe
County supports, those it opposes, and the congressional legislation particularly the bipartisan
Fixing Emergency Management for Americans Act that presents a more locally protective
alternative.
NFIP reauthorization remains a critical priority. The program continues to operate on short-term
extensions with no long-term solution in sight. Risk Rating 2.0 continues to drive premium increases
toward levels that threaten affordability for Monroe County's approximately 30,000 policyholders.
The agenda calls for capping annual premium increases at no more than 9%, greater pricing
transparency, and protections against a privatization structure that would leave the County's highest-
risk properties in a weakened program with accelerating costs.
Other priorities include federal disaster recovery funding including the NRCS Emergency
Watershed Protection program, CDBG-DR, and HMGP where the agenda calls for permanent
authorization, direct local access to funds, and protections against state-level redirection of federal
dollars. The County continues to seek changes to NRCS and FEMA authorities to ensure adequate
marine debris removal funding is available after future storms a gap that became painfully clear
after Hurricane Irma, when 41.5% of canals submitted for debris removal and 67.7% of canals
submitted for sediment removal were not approved.
The County's federal appropriations requests for local projects continue to be a focus. This year the
County is requesting $3 million for final engineering and permitting for replacement of the Card
Sound Bridge and$2.25 million for the Big Pine Key Activity Center, both from the FY2027
Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bill. Earmark funding has been
successfully secured each year since the program was reinstated in Congress.
Additional priorities include Army Corps of Engineers funding for the Keys Coastal Resiliency
Project and the Florida Keys Water Quality Improvement Program, Everglades restoration, PILT,
veterans services, affordable housing, and continued opposition to offshore oil and gas drilling and
exploration in Florida's coastal waters where Monroe County supports the Florida delegation's
efforts, including Senator Moody's American Shores Protection Act.
Upon Board approval, staff and federal contract lobbyist Greg Burns with Thorn Run Partners will
pursue the legislative priorities approved by the Board,placing appropriate emphasis on the issues the
Board identifies as most critical.
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION:
Approval of the 2025-2026 Federal Legislative Agenda
Approval of the 2024-2025 Federal Legislative Agenda
Approval of the 2022-2023 Federal Legislative Agenda, June 2023
Approval of the 2021-2022 Federal Legislative Agenda, June 2022
Approval of the 2020 Federal Legislative Agenda, May 2020
Approval of the 2019 Federal Legislative Agenda, Jan 2019
Approval of the 2018 Federal Legislative Agenda, June 2018
Approval of the 2017 Federal Legislative Agenda, May 2017
INSURANCE REQUIRED:
No
CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES:
N/A
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Approval
DOCUMENTATION:
2026 Monroe County Federal Agenda .pdf
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:
MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
U^I Y
THE FLORIDA KEYS
2026-2027 FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES
1. FISCAL YEAR 2027 COMMUNITY FUNDED PROJECT REQUSTS
Support Monroe County's requests for$3 million for final engineering and permitting for replacement of the Card
Sound Bridge and$2.25 million for the Big Pine Key Activity Center,both from the Fiscal Year 2027 Transportation,
and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bill.
2. FEMA REFORM
Monitor FEMA reform following the May 2026 release of the Review Council's final report. The report
recommends sweeping changes that would, if implemented, fundamentally alter the relationship between the
federal government, states, and disaster survivors. FEMA and Department of Homeland Security can implement
some recommendations administratively,while others require congressional action.
Among the most consequential proposals: replacing the per-capita disaster declaration standard with a narrower
metric-based trigger; converting Public Assistance from project-based reimbursement to direct block payments to
states ("RAPID Direct Funding") with a federal cost share floor reduced from 75% to as low as 50%; narrowing
Individual Assistance eligibility to homes rendered uninhabitable; eliminating the Hazard Mitigation Grant
Program and replacing itwith a new state-managed program("RW')with reduced federal cost share;and creating
a private flood insurance marketplace designed to divert lower-risk policyholders from the NFIP.
Meanwhile, Congress continues to present a different version of FEMA. The Fixing Emergency Management for
Americans Act (H.R. 4669), approved by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee 57-3 in
September 2025 with 69 bipartisan co-sponsors, would make FEMA an independent agency reporting to the
President, expedite Public Assistance for smaller disasters, close the backlog of open disaster declarations, and
take a survivor-centered approach to Individual Assistance reform — in important respects presenting a
meaningfully different approach to the Review Council's recommendations.
Additionally,the FY2026 Homeland Security Appropriations Act passed by Congress in April 2026 explicitly rejects
proposed FEMA staffing reductions, prohibits pauses in non-disaster grant programs, new PA transparency
requirements included a public dashboard that tracks project status and cash flows, and imposes financial
penalties on DHS for unnecessary delays in disaster reimbursement reviews — reflecting strong bipartisan
resistance to the Administration's direction.
Monroe County supports.
• The Fixing Emergency Management for Americans Act;
• Maintaining the current 75% federal cost share floor for Public Assistance and oppose any block payment
structure that would reduce Monroe County's federal commitment or give states authority for project
selection;
• Expedited,predictable,and transparent FEMA processes,including faster access to Public Assistance funding;
• Improved disaster housing programs that deliver assistance to disaster survivors faster and without
unnecessary eligibility restrictions;
• Maintaining FEMA's core operational workforce at levels sufficient to meet its disaster response and recovery
mission;
• Retaining HMGP or an equivalent program with comparable federal cost share and project eligibility scope;
and
• Rewarding local preparedness,hardening and mitigation.
Monroe County remains concerned with the following Council recommendations:
• Increased per capita damage thresholds on smaller jurisdictions. By the Council's own analysis, 29% of
disasters declared between 2012 and 2025 would not have qualified under the new threshold. Statewide
thresholds structurally disadvantage small coastal counties like Monroe,where localized catastrophic damage
may not meet the state population level.
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• Cost shifts to local governments. Reducing the federal PA cost share floor from 75% to as low as 50%,
narrowing IA eligibility, and replacing HMGP with a state-administered program would collectively and
substantially shift disaster recovery costs onto local governments and survivors.
• Parametric payment formulas for Public Assistance. Predetermined payments based on flood depth or
wind speed would likely undercompensate Monroe County,whose disaster damages are complex,cumulative,
and rarely captured by any single meteorological measure.
• Reduction in Individual Assistance and limitation to eligibility.The Council recommends limiting housing
assistance to survivors whose homes have been rendered uninhabitable, replacing the current multiple
channels of rental, repair, and replacement assistance with a single one-time payment, and devolving long-
term housing recovery to the states,leaving many without adequate support.Monroe County is concerned that
these changes would fall hardest on renters and moderate-damage homeowners who represent a significant
share of the County's post-disaster population.
3. SUPPORT REAUTHORIZATION OF THE NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM (NFIP) TO PROTECT
AFFORDABILITY
Affordable flood insurance protects property owners, property values, local tax revenue, and economic
activity. Coastal communities generate 80%of the State of Florida's GDP and 46%of the entire national GDP.
Monroe County is highly reliant upon the NFIP with 30,000 active policies and$713 in insured value.Florida carries
nearly 1.7M of NFIP's 4.5M policies nationwide, more than any other state, with $472B in insured value,
making it the most exposed state to any changes in the NFIP.
FEMA continues to implement the Risk Rating (RR) 2.0 pricing methodology that purports to align premiums
with risk. However, annual increases are capped by law at 18% for primary homes and 25% for second homes
and commercial properties,meaning that larger increases are phased in over several years. Despite repeated calls
for increased transparency,the methodology behind RR2.0 remains unclear. Based on the most detailed Monroe
County-specific data FEMA has released publicly, the County's average future risk-based premiums will increase
significantly. Though some members of Congress continue to advocate for the elimination of RR 2.0, the FEMA
Council Report strongly endorsed its continuation.
The Council report also recommends expanding privatization, creating a private flood insurance marketplace
designed to divert lower-risk properties from the NFIP while retaining higher-risk properties,which would include
the majority of Monroe County's policies, in a smaller program, a structure that could weaken the program and
likely accelerate premium increases for remaining policyholders.
Meanwhile, the NFIP's statutory authorization limps along with repeated short-term extensions and no
comprehensive long-term solution in sight.
Monroe County supports:
• Cap annual premium increases to no more than 9% for all property types, including second homes and
commercial properties,to maintain affordability;
• Require full transparency in RR 2.0's pricing methodology, including public disclosure of the factors and
weightings used to calculate individual premiums;
• Enforce mandatory flood insurance coverage for properties in the 100-year floodplain with federally-backed
mortgages to ensure broad risk diversification and stabilize premiums; and
• Ensure that any expansion of private flood insurance requires private insurers to assume the full risk profile
of properties they insure, not selectively transfer lower risk policies, to prevent NFIP from becoming an
insurer of last resort for the highest risk properties.
Monroe County also supports the following NFIP reforms, which are recommended by the FEMA Review
Council:
• Reduce Write Your Own insurer compensation,which costs the NFIP approximately$1 billion annually and
is based on a dated methodology,and redirect those savings toward program solvency;
• Prioritize hazard mitigation funding for repetitive loss and severe repetitive loss properties,to reduce the
disproportionate share of NFIP claims generated by a small number of high-risk properties;and
• Increase federal investment in,and faster deployment of,hazard mitigation funding,which yields
documented returns of up to 6:1 in avoided disaster losses.
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4. OTHER DISASTER RECOVERY ISSUES
• Support funding for post-disaster recovery efforts, including for the Natural Resource Conservation Service
Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) program,CDBG-Disaster Recovery,and FEMA reimbursements.
o Oppose elimination of the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program; if Congress acts on the FEMA Review
Council's recommendation to replace HMGP with a new state-managed program, ensure any successor
program maintains comparable federal cost share,project eligibility scope,and direct access to funding for
local governments.
o Support flexible federal funding mechanisms, such as block grants, only if they include guaranteed
subaward minimums to local governments, defined eligible use categories, and federal audit and
transparency requirements that prevent state-level redirection of funds.
• Support changes to the NRCS EWP program or develop new authorities for FEMA to remove all debris in
nearshore marine environments to respond to future disasters in the Florida Keys.
o The NRCS EWP program has been invaluable to Monroe County. However, it only partially solved the
problem with canal debris and sediment challenges after Irma. Of the 422 canals submitted to NRCS for
marine debris removal during past storm, 17S or 41.5 percent were not approved. Meanwhile,of 34 canals
that were submitted for sediment removal,21 or 67.7 percent were not approved.
• Support legislation that would require FEMA to reimburse local governments for interest payments on
disaster-related loans,something that would have saved Monroe County$1,653,394 in interest and other debt
service costs in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma.
• Support permanent authorization of the CDBG-DR program so HUD does not have to create a new program
every time Congress funds recovery activities,thereby shortening the time for locals to receive funds.
o Support legislation that would create a disaster recovery fund at HUD to replace the CDBG-DR program,
make the program permanent,and support more efficient recovery.
S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS PROGRAMS
Support funding for the following Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) programs that impact Monroe County:
• Monroe County, FL Project (Keys Coastal Resiliency Project): Monroe County is partnering with the
ACOE on a suite of projects to stabilize portions of US 1, dry floodproof critical buildings,and elevate and
dry floodproof residential buildings.The project was authorized for construction by Congress via the 2022
Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) and received $917,000 in Fiscal Year 2023 to fully fund the
federal costs of preconstruction, engineering, and design for the US 1 stabilization (the first segment to
proceed to construction).These outcomes occurred because of the County's advocacy.
o Support future funding for the Monroe County,Florida project.
• Florida Keys Water Quality Improvement Program (FKWQIP): These funds repay a portion of local
funding used to construct wastewater systems throughout the Keys that have vastly improved local water
quality. Funding to date of roughly $85 million has been appropriated by Congress. The 2024 Water
Resources Development Act increased the overall authorization from $100 million to $200 million and
allows the County to participate in future funding.
o Support funding from the annual Energy&Water Appropriations bill to continue to fund FKWQIP.
• Everglades Restoration: Restoration efforts that bring more clean, fresh water from the Everglades
south to Florida Bay significantly improve the health of Florida Bay. The seagrass beds of Florida Bay
support highly productive recreation and commercial fisheries but are threatened by poor water quality
and hyper saline conditions that result from insufficient flows of fresh water. Recently, Everglades
restoration has benefited from an unprecedented level of funding,with the federal government providing
more than $2.5 billion over the last several years,with another $450+ million scheduled for Fiscal Year
2027. Meanwhile, the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Reservoir — designed to capture, store, and
treat water flowing south to Florida Bay—is being led by the state of Florida,with the federal government
committing an additional $2 billion recently to advance its construction.
o Support the Administration's request for Everglades funding in FY 2027 via the Energy & Water
Appropriations bill. Support expedited completion of the EAA Reservoir and other Central Everglades
Planning Project components.
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6. SUPPORT CRITICAL FEDERAL FUNDING FOR MONROE COUNTY
Following are programs Monroe County depends on that may be subject to future spending cuts as efforts are
made to reduce federal expenditures:
• Payments In Lieu Of Taxes (PILT): Support full and long-term mandatory funding of the PILT program.
• South Florida Geographic Program: Support full funding of the EPA South Florida Geographic Program in
the annual Interior Appropriations bill.
• Older Americans Act programs that support critical social service programs serving elder persons.
• Social Services Block Grant program.
• Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program: support full funding of the LIHEAP program.
• Continuum Of Care program to support our local homeless assistance initiatives.
• Low-Income Housing Tax Credits: Support the LIHTC allocated to states,which includes a 12.5% increase
to further develop affordable housing throughout the nation.
7. INFRASTRUCTURE and RESILIENCE INVESTMENTS
• Support opportunities to secure funding for the County's infrastructure priorities including bridges and
airports,among other initiatives.
• Support the development of funding programs to assist with the implementation of more robust resilient
infrastructure and to assist with long-term operations and maintenance costs.
• Support federal investments in infrastructure hardening.
• Support the continuation of a stable and robust funding level for the Airport Improvement Program, which
benefits Key West International Airport as well as the other airports in the County.
8. VETERANS AFFAIRS ISSUES
Veterans' programs remain at risk due to funding reductions, personnel shortages, housing affordability, and
access to benefits and services,particularly in Monroe County where travel distances and the cost of living create
additional barriers.
• Support federal funding to expand and strengthen the work of County Veterans Service Officers.
• Support the expansion of veteran housing programs,including HUD-VASH vouchers,Supportive Services for
Veteran Families,state housing funds,and high-cost-area veteran housing assistance.
• Support improvements to the VA Mission Act to enable Monroe County veterans to fully benefit from the law.
• Support additional educational benefits for our nation's veterans to allow them to attend post-secondary
schools more quickly after service concludes.
• Support improvements to the VA Transition Assistance Program that will help support veterans as they
transition to civilian life,including an opportunity to reattend the program.
• Support legislation that would allow certain combat-injured,medically retired veterans to receive both their
full military retirement pay and VA disability compensation.
9. OPPOSE OIL AND GAS DRILLING AND EXPLORATION,LEASE EXPANSION AND SEISMIC TESTING
Support via legislation or executive action the protection of federal lands in Florida, including the Everglades,
federal waters on the Outer Continental Shelf along Florida, along the Atlantic seaboard of the United States, east
of the Military Mission Line in the Gulf of Mexico, and within the boundaries of Florida's territorial seas from oil
and gas drilling, exploration, and testing. The Department of the Interior's November 2025 proposed five-year
offshore leasing plan includes a new planning area in the South-Central Gulf that would open areas long off-limits
to new oil and gas leasing — a proposal that prompted all 30 members of Florida's congressional delegation to
sign a letter in December 2025 expressing strong opposition. Monroe County supports the Florida delegation's
efforts, including Senator Moody's American Shores Protection Act, which would ban offshore drilling near
Florida's coastline and extend existing protections through 2032, and urges the Administration to uphold its
existing moratorium keeping Florida's coasts off the table for new oil and gas leasing.
10. NAVAL AIR STATION KEY WEST
Monitor activities related to Naval Air Station Key West. Support Department of Defense investments to ensure
the continued robust presence of the Naval Air Station and its associated missions.Support funding for the Public
Schools on Military Installations program which would help improve Sigsbee Charter School on Naval Air Station
Key West and other schools in Florida.
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