HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-16-0619City of Miami
Resolution R-16-0619
Legislation
City Hall
3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, FL 33133
www.miamigov.com
File Number: 1316 Final Action Date: 12/8/2016
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION URGING THE
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEES OF THE UNITED STATES SENATE AND
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO FOLLOW THE LOW INCOME HOME
ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM'S ("LIHEAP") ENABLING LAW WHEN
DETERMINING ALL FUTURE APPROPRIATIONS AND RESTORING LIHEAP
FUNDING TO HISTORIC LEVELS; DIRECTING THE CITY OF MIAMI'S
FEDERAL LOBBYISTS TO ADVOCATE FOR ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION THAT
WOULD ACCOMPLISH THE GOALS SET FORTH IN THIS RESOLUTION AND
DIRECTING THE CITY ADMINISTRATION TO INCLUDE THIS ITEM IN ITS
LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES FOR THE 2017 LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND
FUTURE LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS; FURTHER DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK
TO FORWARD A CERTIFIED COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION TO THE
OFFICIALS STATED HEREIN.
SPONSOR(S): Commissioner Wifredo (Willy) Gort
WHEREAS, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program ("LIHEAP"),
administered by the United States ("U.S.") Department of Health and Human Services through
its Office of Community Services ("OCS"), is the primary federal program that provides funds to
States to assist low-income households in meeting their home energy costs; and
WHEREAS, the LIHEAP is a limited block grant program that provides flexible federal -
state partnerships to prevent service terminations during cold and hot weather emergencies;
assists recipients to make the transition from public assistance to economic self-reliance; and
helps low-income households remain economically self-sufficient; and
WHEREAS, LIHEAP can provide vital heating, cooling, and efficiency assistance to low-
income households, including working -poor families, senior citizens, persons with disabilities,
and veterans; and
WHEREAS, the City of Miami ("City") recognizes basic energy services to be a vital key
to the health, safety, and well-being of City and State of Florida ("State") residents, households,
and families; and
WHEREAS, poverty, unemployment, and the slow economic recovery remain persistent
national problems for many, and most especially, low-income households; and
WHEREAS, homes in low-income and minority communities severely lack energy
efficiency features that can reduce energy consumption; and
WHEREAS, the severe constraints on state and local budgets and the increased strain
on the nation's support system provided by nonprofit, faith -based, and charitable community
organizations have reduced other resources available for energy assistance; and
City of Miami Page 1 of 3 File ID: 1316 (Revision:) Printed On: 3/18/2025
File ID: 1316 Enactment Number: R-16-0619
WHEREAS, federal LIHEAP funding has declined from approximately $5.1 billion in
2010 to $3.4 billion in 2016; and
WHEREAS, for federal fiscal year 2017, OCS has announced an initial release of
approximately $3.09 billion in LIHEAP block grant funding; and
WHEREAS, the allocation of LIHEAP block grant funds to the State decreased from
approximately $110 million in 2010 to $68 million in 2016; and
WHEREAS, for federal fiscal year 2017, OCS has only allocated approximately $63
million in LIHEAP block grant funding to the State; and
WHEREAS, due to this limited funding, less than one hundred twenty-five thousand
(125,000) Florida households received LIHEAP assistance in 2014, or less than ten percent
(10%) of the State's eligible households; and
WHEREAS, the National Energy and Utility Affordability Coalition and other concerned
national organizations support restoring LIHEAP funding to at least $4.7 billion in federal fiscal
year 2017; and
WHEREAS, as was confirmed in the Congressional Research Service's June 26, 2015
report, Congressional Appropriators also have the ability to increase the State's share of funding
without increasing the overall federal LIHEAP budget by following LIHEAP's enabling law, which
provides an allocation formula that calibrates for the dangers of both extreme heat and cold, as
well as adjusting funding for changing energy costs, demographics, and poverty;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI, FLORIDA:
Section 1. The recitals and findings contained in the Preamble to this Resolution are
adopted by reference and incorporated as if fully set forth in this Section.
Section 2. The City Commission urges the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations
and the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations to both fully follow
LIHEAP's enabling law when determining all future appropriations, and to restore LIHEAP
funding to its historic levels.
Section 3. The City Commission directs the City's federal lobbyists to advocate for
administrative action that would accomplish the goals set forth in this Resolution and directs the
City Administration to include this item in its legislative priorities for the 2017 Legislative Session
and future legislative sessions.
Section 4. The City Clerk is directed to forward certified copies of this Resolution to the
Members of the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations, to the Members of the U.S. House
of Representatives Committee on Appropriations, Members of the Florida Congressional
Delegation, and the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
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File ID: 1316 Enactment Number: R-16-0619
Section 5. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption and
signature of the Mayor.'
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS:
ndez, ity Attor ey 11/28/2016
1 If the Mayor does not sign this Resolution, it shall become effective at the end of ten (10) calendar days
from the date it was passed and adopted. If the Mayor vetoes this Resolution, it shall become effective
immediately upon override of the veto by the City Commission.
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