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File ID: #10603
Resolution
Sponsored by: Commissioner Ken Russell
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION URGING PRESIDENT JOSEPH
R. BIDEN, JR. AND THE 117TH CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES
(COLLECTIVELY, "FEDERAL GOVERNMENT") TO ALLOCATE FIVE BILLION
DOLLARS ($5,000,000,000.00) OF FUNDING FOR EVERGLADES RESTORATION
WITHIN THE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT
("INFRASTRUCTURE BILL"); FURTHER URGING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO
APPROVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL WITH THE FUNDING ALLOCATION FOR
EVERGLADES RESTORATION; DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO TRANSMIT A
COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION TO THE OFFICIALS NAMED HEREIN.
City of Miami
Legislation
Resolution
Enactment Number: R-21-0351
City Hall
3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, FL 33133
www.miamigov.com
File Number: 10603 Final Action Date:9/13/2021
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION URGING PRESIDENT JOSEPH
R. BIDEN, JR. AND THE 117TH CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES
(COLLECTIVELY, "FEDERAL GOVERNMENT") TO ALLOCATE FIVE BILLION
DOLLARS ($5,000,000,000.00) OF FUNDING FOR EVERGLADES RESTORATION
WITHIN THE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT
("INFRASTRUCTURE BILL"); FURTHER URGING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO
APPROVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL WITH THE FUNDING ALLOCATION FOR
EVERGLADES RESTORATION; DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO TRANSMIT A
COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION TO THE OFFICIALS NAMED HEREIN.
WHEREAS, the Everglades are roughly three million acres of irreplaceable endangered
habitat that is vital to Florida's economic and environmental viability; and
WHEREAS, the Everglades are the source of drinking water for 8 million Floridians; and
WHEREAS, nationally recognized scientists and educators have engaged in a decades -
long campaign to restore the Everglades; and
WHEREAS, the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan ("CERP") was authorized
by Congress as part of the Water Resources Redevelopment Act of 2000 to restore, preserve,
and protect the south Florida ecosystem while also providing for other water -related needs of
the region, including water supply and flood protection; and
WHEREAS, the CERP is the largest hydrologic restoration project ever undertaken in
the United States; and
WHEREAS, restoration of the Everglades will ensure economic security and a reliable
and clean water supply for communities for future generations; and
WHEREAS, the greater Everglades system supports irreplaceable natural infrastructure
that impedes storm surge, saltwater intrusion, and the impacts of sea level rise; and
WHEREAS, the infusion of five billion dollars ($5,000,000,000.00) in federal funds will
enable the United States Army Corps of Engineers and the South Florida Water Management
District to complete all authorized projects in CERP within the next decade; and
WHEREAS, Congress has a generational opportunity to complete the largest ecosystem
restoration project; and
WHEREAS, Everglades restoration includes the construction of a reservoir south of
Lake Okeechobee that would clean water before it is sent south through the Everglades; and
WHEREAS, in cleaning the water, the reservoir would reduce the need for discharges
into the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee rivers that can cause blue-green algae bloom in the
rivers and on Florida's coasts; and
WHEREAS, blue-green algae blooms are killing Florida's coastal estuaries and local
economies; and
WHEREAS, the implementation of resilient, sustainable green infrastructure is a priority
for the City of Miami;
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 federal government, including President
Joseph R. Biden, Jr., the Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States Senate, the
Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Minority Leader of the House of
Representatives (collectively, "Federal Government"), to allocate five billion dollars
($5,000,000,000.00) of funding within the Infrastructure Bill for Everglades Restoration ("Bill").
Section 3. The City Commission further urges the Federal Government to approve the
Bill inclusive of the full funding for the Everglades Restoration.
Section 4. The City Clerk is directed to transmit a copy of this Resolution to President
Joseph R. Biden, Jr.; Vice President Kamala Harris; Majority Leader of the United States
Senate Charles E. Schumer; Minority Leader of the United States Senate Mitch McConnell;
Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi; Minority Leader of the House of
Representatives Kevin McCarthy; Senators Tom Carper, Marco Rubio, and Rick Scott; and
Representatives Peter Defazio, Al Lawson, Stephanie Murphy, Darren Soto, Val Demings,
Charlie Christ, Kathy Castor, Lois Frankel, Ted Deutch, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, and
Frederica Wilson.
Section 5. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption.
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS:
ndez, ity ttor ey , 9/1/2021
ndez, ity Attor ey 9/22/2021