2018 FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM

Transcription

1 MARTIN COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS 2018 FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM ADOPTED: January 23, 2018

2 2017 LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM TABLE OF CONTENTS CONTENTS Legislative Program... 1 FY 2017 Strategic Goals... 2 Guiding Principles... 3 Environmental Resources, The Economy & Tourism... 4 Indian River Lagoon-South Project Priority St. Lucie Federal Inlet Navigation Project Priority....6 Herbert Hoover Dike Rehabilitation Priority... 7 Northern Florida Coral Reef Tract. 8 US 27 Multimodal Corridor Sober Homes Regulation.10 Florida Association of Counties Federal Priorities...11 National Association of Counties Federal Piriorities / Martin County Policy Statements.. 13 Martin County Federal Policy Statements 15 1

3 Martin County Board of County Commissioners Left to Right: Chairman Edward Ciampi, District 4; Vice Chairman Harold Jenkins, District 3; Commissioner Sarah Heard, District 4; Commissioner Ed Fielding, District 2; and Commissioner Doug Smith, District 1. MARTIN COUNTY STRATEGIC GOALS REGIONAL ISSUES: Martin County shall work with all governments and across county lines to advocate for projects of regional interest. BOARD LEGISLATIVE AND PLANNING: Martin County shall review its planning and development efforts to ensure that it maintains quality residential and non-residential uses, protects natural resources, and enhances economic development in a fiscally conservative manner. INFRASTRUCTURE AND PROJECT PRIORITIES: Martin County shall maintain its infrastructure in an efficient, cost-effective manner to ensure public facilities serve county residents' needs. INTERNAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES: Martin County shall continue to refine its internal policies and procedures to ensure that it achieves the highest level of efficiency and accountability for its use of taxpayer monies ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: Martin County shall continue efforts to support economic diversification of its local economy and advocate for projects of regional interest that support economic viability. INFRASTRUCTURE: Martin County is committed to infrastructure improvements while making actionable progress within our Capital Improvement Plan to focus on local water infrastructure projects including septic to sewer conversions, stormwater upgrades, beach renourishment and inlet management, as well as transportation infrastructure and economic development enhancements including roadway and drainage improvements, parks and recreation investments, general aviation development, community revitalization and fire rescue funding. 2

4 MARTIN COUNTY S GUIDING PRINCIPLES The ability to maintain home rule and avoid unfunded mandates are central to Martin County s federal and state legislative priorities and advocacy needs, as outlined below. These ideals are championed by Martin County, the Florida Association of Counties (FAC) and the National Association of Counties (NACo). Each year Martin County works alongside FAC and NACo. Martin County SUPPORTS, in general, FAC and NACo s legislative policy statements. HOME RULE Home rule power is conferred to Florida counties by Article VIII, Section 1(f) and 1(g) of the Florida Constitution (1968), and by section , Florida Statutes. The Martin County BCC is dedicated to the preservation of this fundamental democratic concept that protects the right of the people to determine and implement a public purpose at the grassroots level. UNFUNDED MANDATES While some mandates are justified because they achieve agreed upon policy goals, many, if not most mandates, are imposed without the consensus of local governments or resources for implementation. Mandates drain the financial lifeblood from county governments and impede the ability to adequately deliver fundamental services required by law. POLICY STATEMENTS The Martin County BCC SUPPORTS maintaining the integrity of county home rule power, both administrative and fiscal, which allows counties to develop and implement community-based solutions to local problems. The Martin County BCC OPPOSES any state or federal actions that limit the ability of local elected officials to make fiscal and public policy decisions for the citizens they represent. The Martin County BCC SUPPORTS the establishment of an agreed upon course of action whereby elected officials deliberatively evaluate the appropriate funding and delivery of intergovernmental service responsibilities between the county and state or federal governments. The Martin County BCC SUPPORTS tax reform measures that simplify administration and provide an economic boost to taxpayers while at the same time considering and minimizing cumulative negative impact on local revenues, including state shared and local discretionary revenue sources that are critical to local governments in providing community services. 3

5 ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES, TOURISM AND THE ECONOMY The Indian River Lagoon, St. Lucie Estuary, coastal Atlantic Ocean waters and beaches, and near shore coral reefs have long suffered from altered water flow patterns and degraded water quality. The current sustained damaging discharges from Lake Okeechobee and local pollutant inputs have contributed to toxic blue-green algae blooms throughout our water system. This summer, Governor Scott declared a state of emergency in Martin County as we experienced the effects of the algal bloom in the St. Lucie Estuary, Indian River Lagoon and coastal Atlantic Ocean. These blooms were directly related to high-volume, freshwater lake releases and an ongoing septic tank issue that are devastating to both to our economy and our ecosystem. The algal blooms extended to the Atlantic Ocean and onto our beaches during the 4 th of July weekend, crippling our local tourism and marine-based economy where 7,070 jobs are supported by travel employment and another 3,371 jobs are supported by marine industries. The unprecedented damage and health hazards that our community is experiencing requires unprecedented actions to provide relief. Clean water is essential to our community and a healthy Everglades and South Florida ecosystem that supports tens of thousands of jobs and contributes billions of dollars to our economy. REQUEST BEACH RESTORATION: Continue to work with the federal government to provide storm protection, recreation and habitat on eroded beaches and SUPPORT continued federal funding for beach projects. ECONOMIC IMPACT OF ENVIRONMENT* Ranked 8 th, the Marine Industry of Treasure Coast of Florida calls Martin County one of the primary economic drivers in the region $770.5 million/year in business sales $114.5 million/year in state and local travel generated tax revenues 7,070 jobs supported by Travel Employment 3,371 jobs supported by Marine Industries Each of the 63,899 households in Martin County pays $ less in state and local taxes as a result of tourist spending $123 million in personal income, and $588 million in property values is attributed to the environment in Martin County *Sources: Marine Industries Association of the Treasure Coast, Martin County Tourism Office of Tourism & Marketing, Marine Industries Association of Florida 4

6 MARTIN COUNTY FEDERAL PRIORITY: INDIAN RIVER LAGOON-SOUTH The Indian River Lagoon-South (IRL-S) Restoration Project, part of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP), was authorized to address the damaging effects of pollution and unnaturally large freshwater discharges and local basin runoff into our ecologically vital water bodies. The IRL-S Project employs a regional approach to address the Martin and St. Lucie County portions of the lagoon. A major step forward for the C-44 Reservoir occurred on November 20, 2015, when ground was broken and construction began on the reservoir. Since then, there has been enormous progress on this project. Now, we need to move forward to the next phase of construction. We are hopeful that Congress will appropriate the $59.5 million requested in your 2017 budget for the C-44 Reservoir. LOCAL COMMITMENT TO CERP 100% of the land acquired for the 12,000 acre $330 million C-44 project in Martin County was purchased in partnership between Martin County and SFWMD. Martin County raised $75 million through voter-driven referendum to purchase land necessary to implement IRL-S. REQUEST SUPPORT continued appropriations for the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) and the Indian River Lagoon-South (IRL-S) Project. SUPPORT sufficient funds to continue construction of the C-44 Reservoir, a critical component of the IRL-S Project. We ask that this funding match the maximum capability of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. SUPPORT that the FY 2019 budget contain funding at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers capability level for the design work for the C-23 and C-24 South Reservoirs. BENEFITS OF IRL-S The IRL-S Project will greatly reduce polluted freshwater discharges into the St. Lucie River and the Indian River Lagoon IRL-S, C-44 Reservoir and STA construction will create 4,738 direct and indirect jobs* Through the SFWMD, the IRL-S Pump Station Contract will create 285 new jobs and the STA Contract will create 710 new jobs** C-44 provides 12,000 acres of above ground storage 5 *US Army Corps of Engineers Contract 2 Job Creation Calculations **South Florida Water Management District Job Creation Calculations

7 MARTIN COUNTY FEDERAL PRIORITY: ST. LUCIE FEDERAL NAVIGATION INLET Congress approved the St. Lucie, Florida Federal Navigation Project by resolution in May The authorization contains key structural components along with ongoing maintenance of the federal channel. The Impoundment Basin, completed in 2002, traps sediments entering the inlet before they can impact the navigation channel. The North Jetty Rehab, completed in 2009, increased the jetty height, shielding the navigation channel from heavy seas, and better distributing sand deposition throughout the impoundment basin. The St. Lucie Inlet Management Plan requires that certain volumes of sand be placed on adjacent eroding beaches to mitigate impacts resulting from the existence of the Inlet. As sand accumulates in the inlet, it fills the impoundment basin and, if not maintained in a timely manner, eventually begins to spill into the navigation channel making the St. Lucie inlet increasingly difficult to navigate. Shallow conditions generate dangerous currents and waves. While in the past the St. Lucie Inlet has received federal funding as a special appropriation in the federal budget, the move away from directing funds to specific local projects has made securing federal funding for the maintenance of the inlet more challenging. REQUEST SUPPORT adequate annual funding for the USACE Operations & Maintenance (O&M) Small, Remote, or Subsistence Navigation dredging account, including additional funding for dredging not identified in the annual Federal Administration budget. SUPPORT securing a long-term contributed funds agreement (CFA) to allow for the continuation of an active partnership between the County and the Corps as we both work to manage and maintain the inlet. A long-term CFA will allow the County to maintain the inlet at our expense in times of need. SUPPORT issuance of a federal permit to the County should the County need to do our own dredging to achieve greater cost-effectiveness. BENEFIT Safety/Port of Refuge: The St. Lucie Inlet provides access to protected waters. Access to such areas is of prime importance to oceangoing vessels, especially in times of severe storms and hurricanes. This became extremely important during past hurricane seasons. Boaters will also continue to try to navigate the inlet even after the Coast Guard has declared it unsafe for navigation. Economy, Recreation & Tourism: Our waterways provide $362 million in annual sales, $123 million in personal income, and $588 million in property values. The marine industry accounts for one in ten jobs in Martin County the inlet is vital to those who rely on it for their livelihood. A safe, navigable inlet and the benefit to beaches down drift from bypassed sand increases economic value of commercial and recreational boating and provides invaluable recreational opportunities to residents and visitors. 6

8 MARTIN COUNTY FEDERAL PRIORITY: HERBERT HOOVER DIKE REHABILITATION The is one of 16 members of the County Coalition for the Responsible Management of Lake Okeechobee. These counties comprise one-third of the population of Florida and join together quarterly to participate in a dialogue of the watershed that comprises the Everglades ecosystem. Martin County has adopted the 16 County Coalition s FY18 priorities. The number one priority of the County Coalition is the Herbert Hoover Dike Rehabilitation. The USACE continues work on Herbert Hoover Dike (HHD), the 143-mile structure surrounding Lake Okeechobee. Since 2007, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has made a significant investment of over $500 million in projects designed to reduce the risk of catastrophic failure of the aging structure. The HHD is listed as one of the nation s dams in most need of repair and is a USACE top priority. There are currently 16 dams in the nation listed in most need of repair in the USACE Dam Safety Program; HHD is one of them. The Lake provides drinking water for surrounding communities and to the more than 6 million people living along the lower East Coast, and also serves as a source of irrigation water for the agricultural industry. REQUEST SUPPORT an increased annual appropriation for rehabilitation of the HHD to accelerate project completion by 2022 as per the Integrated Delivery Schedule (IDS) published in The Dike dike is currently undergoing rehabilitation with an estimated date of completion of The Board supports any and all actions by the federal government to expedite full rehabilitation of the Herbert Hoover Dike. REQUEST that the federal share of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) should be sufficient to fully implement all plan components at the agreed upon cost share in accordance with adopted project schedules. The President s FY 2016 Budget Request includes $123,742,000 for South Florida Ecosystem Restoration and $64,141,000 for the HHD. The South Florida Ecosystem Restoration initiative received an additional $7,181,000 for operations and maintenance in the President s request. In FY 2017, continue to SUPPORT the President s Budget Requests for the Hoover Dike rehabilitation and Everglades Restoration. BENEFIT The health, safety and welfare of South Florida residents are central to the need for federal funding assistance. Not only is the HHD integrity critical to the citizens of South Florida, but the inability to handle excess stormwater has become a frequent impact to the St. Lucie Estuary. 7

9 NORTHERN FLORIDA REEF TRACT CORAL REEF DISEASE OUTBREAK FY 2018 While disease outbreaks are not unprecedented along the Florida Reef Tract, this disease event is unique in that it has: Persisted and continued to spread since 2014 and includes multiple diseases. Impacted over 18 species of stony coral, including primary reef builders and species that have been listed as Threatened under the Endangered Species Act. A few, especially susceptible species, have effectively been eliminated from the known wild population. For example, over 95% of all known Pillar coral colonies are infected or have already died. The El Niño pattern has also contributed to unusually strong warming of ocean temperatures. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has declared that was the 3rd Global Coral Bleaching Event with the worst coral bleaching since 1998 when we functionally lost between 15 percent and 20 percent (almost 1/5th) of the world's coral reefs. Completed during the 2016 summer, the Our Florida Reefs (OFR) program, a community planning process for southeast Florida s coral reefs designed to use public involvement to generate grassroots recommendations regarding the future management strategies for reefs, issued 68 Recommended Management Actions (RMA s). The Southeast Florida Intergovernmental Coastal Oceans Task Force (COTF), convened to review management strategies and offer political and agency assistance in the implementation of certain management actions, issued their management recommendation in After the sunset of the COTF in 2015, the Coastal Ocean Forum formed to advance the implementation of the COTF recommendations. The Martin County BCC ADOPTED the management recommendations of the COTF in May REQUEST SUPPORT federal funding to implement recommendations from the OFR and COTF processes. SUPPORT reauthorization of the Coral Reef Protection Act of 2000 to allow NOAA to undertake a number of activities to understand, manage, and protect coral reef ecosystems. BENEFIT Socioeconomic studies in the SEFCRI region were conducted in and showed that reefs within the region generate $3.9 billion. Atlantic and Caribbean reefs are considered some of the most threatened ecosystems in the world, and they are declining at alarming rates, including the coral reefs that stretch from the Dry Tortugas in Monroe County to the St. Lucie Inlet in Martin County. The mainland southeast Florida region, including Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and Martin counties, borders the only portion of the Florida Reef Tract that is not part of any management plan. Southeast Florida Coral Reef Initiative (SEFCRI) was created to focus on the northern Florida Reef Tract, because these reefs were largely undocumented with little scientific data, are extensive and close to shore, exist by intensely urbanized areas, are economically and ecologically valuable, and lack coordinated management. 8

10 US 27 MULTIMODAL CORRIDOR In 2013, the Florida Department of Transportation conducted a Planning and Conceptual Engineering (PACE) Study to investigate the feasibility of developing a multimodal corridor on US 27 from Miami north to the south end of Lake Okeechobee. The study evaluated widening US 27 and adding rail to the corridor to address Florida s growing transportation needs for freight and passenger movement. The PACE study identified multiple project benefits including shifting freight traffic off the congested coastal rail corridor thereby moving truck traffic from coastal ports off congested highways to a new rail corridor; and increasing capacity on the coastal corridor for expanded passenger rail service. There is also discussion of using US 27 right-of-way for a de novo dual rail line. This line would serve the ports of Miami, Everglades and Palm Beach and continue onto the east side of Lake Okeechobee connecting to the Tampa/Orlando corridor. The major potential users of the multimodal corridor, ports and railroad, have suggested an inland port of significant size. This is necessary to meet the needs for expanded capacity in order to remain competitive in accommodating neopanamax vessels. There is also interest in interconnecting the east coast freight with the Tampa/Orlando corridor freight. REQUEST SUPPORT FDOT's efforts to reduce freight traffic from the congested coastal corridor of South Florida. SUPPORT relocating rail and highway freight to a more westerly corridor in order to expand business opportunities for the entire area and enhance the overall quality of life by providing better highway travel and less local traffic congestion for residents and visitors. BENEFIT This project shifts freight traffic off the congested coastal rail corridor and alleviates truck traffic from coastal ports off congested highways to a new rail corridor. This project also increases capacity on the coastal corridor for expanded passenger rail service. 9

11 SOBER HOMES REGULATION Florida is in the midst of an opioid crisis with the South Florida region experiencing the worst of the epidemic. Federal laws, including the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 and the Affordable Care Act of 2012, have dramatically increased required insurance coverage for behavioral health issues, including substance abuse treatment. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Fair Housing Act (FHA) have combined to limit government oversight of recovery residences that house persons recovering from Substance Abuse Disorders (SUDs). Florida has become a medical vacation destination for treatment. The flood of out-of-state patients with insurance covering more lucrative out-of-network programs has created a billion-dollar industry in Florida with little oversight. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is charged with the interpretation of the Fair Housing Amendments Act. There is an urgent need for clarification from HUD regarding the language within the Fair Housing Amendments Act ( the Act ) and its application to sober homes. The courts have applied the Act act inconsistently over the years and this has caused a great burden to be placed upon the states and local governments, some of which are currently facing an over-concentration of sober homes in their single-family residential communities. With a lack of regulation and/or oversight of such homes or their operators, there has been increasing abuse and exploitation of the patients/residents in the sober homes by the operators. Therefore, there is a real need for clarification from HUD regarding what actions related to sober homes, if any, may be taken by states and local governments in order to protect the health, safety, and welfare of both the residents of the homes and the surrounding areas where homes are located. REQUEST The following clarifications to the Fair Housing Amendments Act could be helpful: provide a better definition of currently using drugs or alcohol provide that sober homes may be somewhat limited in single-family zoning districts everywhere due to the more frequent turnover of a sober home dwelling unit provide for limitations of sober homes within single single-family zoning districts by providing an allotted percentage of sober houses to non-sober homes within each single-family zoning district or by limiting them by location (no closer than 500 feet from one another) in order to avoid overconcentration of sober homes in single-family zoning districts only provide clarification that sober homes must comply with the local zoning regulations pertaining to the number of unrelated persons allowed per dwelling unit. SUPPORT the recommendations of the Palm Beach County State Attorney s Sober Homes Task Force to regulate the recovery residence industry and protect the welfare, health and safety of the public. 10

12 FEDERAL POLICY PRIORITIES FY 2018 Each year the adopts the priorities of the Florida Association of Counties (FAC) to work with our regional, state and federal partners to advocate for issues that are most important to local government and counties. The Following are the five (5) priorities of the FAC for FY NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM (NFIP) SUPPORT reauthorization of the NFIP with legislative, policy and programmatic modifications to ensure no coverage lapses and to improve the affordability, transparency and financial stability of the program through reforms in the following areas: 1) Affordability/Rate Structure; 2) Mapping/Data Collection/Modeling; and 3) Mitigation. To that end, FAC SUPPRTS the Sustainable, Affordable, FAIR, and Efficient National Flood Insurance Program Reathorization Act (SAFE NFIP) WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACT (WRDA) SUPPORT bi-annual passage of the Water Resources Development Act that authorizes Army Corps of Engineers projects and policies that often have statewide impacts to Florida, including Everglades restoration, port and inlet construction, and beach nourishment projects. SUPPORT restoration of congressionally directed spending. OPIOID FUNDING SUPPORT Opioid Funding: For those suffering from Opioid addiction, SUPPORT life-saving interventions, including medication-assisted treatment, residential treatment, twelve-step recovery and detoxification programs, and diversions from the criminal justice system. SUPPORT efforts to stop international and interstate opioid trafficking and increased penalties for dealers and traffickers whose actions result in loss of life. ZIKA/MOSQUITO CONTROL Zika Funding: To eliminate the risk associated with the Zika virus and other mosquito-borne viruses, FAC urges the federal government to develop a comprehensive eradication strategy that identifies and allocates the appropriate amount of funding needed to support state and local governments. FEMA DEOBLIGATIONS PROPOSED POLICY: FEMA De-obligations: SUPPORT legislation that prohibits the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) from de-obligating from counties previously awarded disaster funds for projects that have been certified complete by the state for at least three year. Additionally, SUPPORT changes to the Stafford Act that will ensure counties, who submit project appeals within the required 60-day timeframe, are not denied the appeal by FEMA, whenever the state, while serving as the grantee, fails to meet its regulatory timeframe for submitting appeals. 11

13 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) PROGRAM FAC strongly SUPPORTS the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program s continued funding and support for local community development and housing assistance programs administered by county elected officials. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT The Florida Association of Counties SUPPORTS federal programs including Federal Economic Development Administration (EDA), Small Business Administration (SBA), and USDA Rural Development that recognize the importance of a federal role in state and local economic development, and provide funding resources, bonds, information, and technical assistance to further this important role. FEDERAL TAX REFORM Proposed Policy: SUPPORT the federal tax code retaining the deductibility of all state and local taxes, particularly the property tax, and it should reinstate the deductibility of sales taxes. Proposed Policy: SUPPORT the preservation of the existing tax-exempt status of municipal bonds. OPPOSE legislative provisions that would repeal or eliminate the tax exempt status of municipal bonds. OPPOSE legislative provisions that would repeal, limit, or cap the deduction for interest earned on new and outstanding municipal bonds. OFFSHORE DRILLING SUPPORT making permanent the ban on oil and gas leasing contained in the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 (GOMESA). 12

14 Each year the adopts the priorities of the National Association of Counties (NACo) to work with our regional, state and federal partners to advocate for issues that are most important to local government and counties. The following are a combination of NACo priorities and additional Martin County policy statements for FY PROMOTE COUNTY INFRASTRUCTURE PRIORITIES NACo will work with the Administration and Congress to ensure that any infrastructure package, including reauthorization of the Water Resources Development Act and the Highway Trust Fund, reflects the following county priorities: allocating more funding for locally owned infrastructure, increasing local decision-making authority and prioritizing investments that increase economic development, mobility and safety. SUPPORT THE PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAXES (PILT) AND SECURE RURAL SCHOOLS (SRS) PROGRAMS NACo supports restoring full mandatory funding for the Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program, which compensates counties for untaxable federal land within their boundaries. NACo also supports extending the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program as a transitional funding mechanism until the federal government fully implements a sustainable long-term forest management program with adequate revenue sharing for forest counties and schools. SUPPORT POLICIES TO PROMOTE MENTAL HEALTH, SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT AND JUSTICE REFORM NACo supports measures that enhance the ability of counties to prevent and treat mental illness and substance use disorders, both in the community and within the context of the criminal justice system. NACo also supports programs and legislation that divert non-violent individuals struggling with mental illness and/or substance use disorders from jails and into treatment programs, while protecting overall public safety. PROTECT THE FEDERAL-STATE-LOCAL PARTNERSHIP FOR MEDICAID NACo supports protecting the federal-state-local partnership structure for financing and delivering Medicaid services while maximizing flexibility to support local systems of care. Counties are concerned about measures that would further shift Medicaid costs to counties, including proposals to institute block grants or per capita caps. These proposals would increase the amount of uncompensated care provided by counties and reduce counties ability to provide for the health of our residents. NACo also supports targeted efforts to enhance flexibility in the program to support local systems of care, including easing Medicaid s Institute of Mental Diseases (IMD) and inmate exclusions. 13

15 WORK TOWARDS A MORE EFFECTIVE DEFINITION OF WATERS OF THE U.S. NACo believes that local streets, gutters and human-made ditches should be excluded from the definition of Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) under the federal Clean Water Act. NACo calls on Congress to require the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to withdraw the new WOTUS rule and to rewrite it in consultation and collaboration with state and local governments. SUPPORT COUNTY AUTHORITY TO COLLECT EXISTING SALES TAX NACo supports legislation to permit the collection of existing sales and use taxes from remote sellers. The issue of collecting remote sales taxes has taken on greater significance in recent years due to the Internet s growth as a retail marketplace. As a result, state and local governments have lost billions in uncollected sales taxes and Main Street businesses find themselves at a significant competitive disadvantage to online merchants. This disadvantage is amplified because online merchants and their customers use and benefit from local infrastructure and services without contributing to their provision. SUPPORT PROGRAMS THAT ASSIST COUNTIES TO PREVENT AND REDUCE POVERTY NACo supports federal investments and strategies that focus on serving those most in need and the root causes of poverty. Because counties are responsible to maintain the local social safety net and are typically mandated to provide indigent care, NACo supports fully funding programs that assist our nation s most vulnerable populations and maintain the maximum amount of flexibility possible at the local level. Key federal programs that assist counties in tackling poverty include the Social Services Block Grant and the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. SUPPORT A COMPREHENSIVE LONG-TERM FARM BILL REAUTHORIZATION NACo supports a long-term reauthorization of the farm bill to help counties provide critical investments in our nation s most underserved communities. In addition to a long-term reauthorization, NACo also supports full funding for all farm bill titles, which help strengthen our nation s rural infrastructure including broadband and water and wastewater systems, protect our nation s food supply, increase access to healthy food to low-income populations through the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP), and promote environmental stewardship and conservation. 14

16 In addition to the Federal priorities of Martin County, the Florida Association of Counties and the National Association of Counties, the has adopted the following position statements for Fiscal Year ENVIRONMENT SAND SOURCE ISSUE: SUPPORT H.R. 833 and S. 279, both of which would allow for the option of using non-domestic sand in future federal beach nourishment projects. Over the past several years, it has become clear that communities in south South Florida need more sand for beach nourishment projects, while there is a relatively large reserve of material off the Treasure Coast. However, transportation distance and grain size and color variations, plus other local concerns, make the Treasure Coast material less suitable for south Florida beaches. With that in mind, the counties of Martin, Broward, Indian River, Miami-Dade and St. Lucie have joined together to amend law in a 1986 WRDA bill that generally prohibits the exploration of non-domestic sand for American shore protection projects. In the 2016 House version of WRDA, Rep. Frankel was successful in amending the legislation on the House floor to include language allowing for easier exploration of such material during planning efforts for future shore protection projects. Unfortunately, the language was dropped in conference negotiations with the Senate and did not become law. In the 115th Congress, Sen. Rubio and Rep. Frankel, along with nine original House cosponsors, have introduced S. 279 and HR 833 which mirrors the language in the 2016 House WRDA bill. Passage of such legislation will allow for the option of using non-domestic sand in future federal beach nourishment projects. BEACH RESTORATION: Continue to work with the federal government to provide storm protection, recreation and habitat on eroded beaches. CLEAN ENERGY: SUPPORT federal legislation or administrative action that removes federal restrictions on Property Assessed Clean Energy programs and expands the list of eligible improvements to include weatherization measures. OIL EXPLORATION: OPPOSE oil exploration and drilling on federal lands in Florida, including the Everglades, and in federal waters on Florida s Outer Continental Shelf. SUPPORT legislation or administrative action halting oil and gas exploration off the eastern seaboard of the United States. SUPPORT legislation or administrative action restricting the use of seismic testing for offshore oil and gas exploration, which can severely impact marine animals. CENTRAL EVERGLADES PROJECT: SUPPORT funding for authorized Everglades restoration projects and legislation authorizing the Central Everglades Project (CEP) included in the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) and the Integrated Delivery Schedule (IDS). TRANSPORTATION, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & INFRASTRUCTURE WITHAM FIELD: SUPPORT full funding of $150 million for the FAA Contract Tower Program in the FY 2017 and 2018 DOT/FAA Appropriations bills. This program is critical to our community for the safety of the flying public and the citizens of Martin County. From an economic perspective alone, Witham Field airport directly supports 1,240 jobs, a total payroll of $35.7 million and total economic activity of $295 million (Source: 2010 FDOT Aviation Economic Impact Study). SMART STRATEGY: SUPPORT the SMART strategy priorities to urge federal leaders to invest in small- and medium-sized communities to identify important federal economic development, public safety, infrastructure, and housing programs critical to cities and counties nationwide to assist in community revitalization. 15

17 NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS: SUPPORT the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) grants and continued funding for local projects. TRUCK WEIGHT SIZE: OPPOSE any legislation that seeks to increase truck size or weight limits beyond those in current federal law because of the tremendous highway safety, infrastructure damage, and transportation funding implications of changes in truck size or weight. There is concern that Congress is considering changes to federal standards that would increase the allowed truck size and weight on roads. Longer and heavier trucks accelerate the deterioration of roads and bridges, putting additional pressure on financially strained local governments to fund infrastructure. Since most truck trips begin and end on the local road system, local government agencies would face increased responsibility for impacts and repairs. Taxpayers subsidize heavy truck operations by nearly $2 billion each year on federally funded roadways, and an equal amount annually on state and locally funded roadways, since truck fees do not cover the damage that trucks do to roads and bridges. HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES HAZMAT RESPONSE TEAMS: SUPPORT the reinstatement of federal funding for regional hazardous materials response teams. In the absence of the ability to access funds through the State Homeland Security Grant Program (SHSP) it is requested that the Martin County delegation advocate for appropriations funding to cover the annual gap in this year's funds of approximately $45,000. VETERANS AFFAIRS: SUPPORT for funds to be made available from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to reimburse counties for the services provided to veterans eligible for VA services and for services provided to veterans awaiting determination of eligibility. VA funds are made available to reimburse services provided to veterans eligible for VA services by public and private providers under contract with the VA. POVERTY: SUPPORT funding programs that assist those most in need and maintaining the maximum amount of efficiency and flexibility possible at the local level. Key federal programs that assist counties in tackling poverty include the Social Services Block Grant, the Community Services Block Grant and the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families programs. MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES: SUPPORT efforts to develop evidence-based community care that is accessible to all, as well as treatment models that provide for a coordinated continuum of care for patients. Funding efforts should not be solely focused on treating those with the most disabling forms of mental illness, but rather a range of prevention, wellness, and crisis treatment, as well as educational outreach to reduce the stigmatism surrounding mental health. It is estimated that untreated and mistreated mental illness costs American business, government and taxpayers $113 billion annually. 16