Okaloosa County BOCC — September 3, 2013 — FAC Federal Committee — reading text

2013 FAC Policy Conference Federal Committee Meeting Wednesday, September 18, 2013 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Sanibel Room, Marriott West Palm Beach Co-Chairs Co-Vice Chairs Lynda Bell, Miami-Dade County Tammy Hall, Lee County Doug Smith, Martin County Grover Robinson, Escambia County AGENDA 1:30 p.m. WELCOME & INTRODUCTIONS • Chairs & Vice Chairs 1:35 p.m. OVERVIEW OF FAC POLICY PROCESS • Eric Poole, FAC Assistant Legislative Director 1:40 p.m. OVERVIEW OF FAC FEDERAL PROGRAM • Deena Reppen, FAC Legislative Director 1:55 p.m. FEDERAL ISSUES AFFECTING THE NATION’S COUNTIES • Deborah Cox, Legislative Director, National Association of Counties 2:25 p.m. 2014 FAC FEDERAL POLICIES • FAC Draft Policy Statements • Open Discussion 3:00 p.m. CLOSING REMARKS/ADJOURNMENT Updated 9/9/13  Federal Policy Committee 2013-14 Policy Statements Deena Reppen, Legislative Director Water Resources Email: dreppen@fl-counties.com Phone: 850-922-4300 Fax: 850-488-7501 WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACT Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan: SUPPORT passage of a Water Resources Development Act, with inclusion of the following provisions:  Authorization of Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) projects with completed Chief of Engineers’ Reports: o Caloosahatchee River (C-43) West Basin Storage Reservoir Project o C-111 Spreader Canal Western Project o Biscayne Bay Coast Wetlands - Phase 1 Project o Broward County Water Preserve Areas Project o Central Everglades Planning Project  Amend the authorization for the Picayune Strand Restoration Project to increase the Authorized Project Cost (i.e., Section 902 Fix)  Authorize carry-over of credits to manage the Federal - Non-Federal cost-share balance (i.e., Treatment of Credit Provision) for all agreements between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the South Florida Water Management District, allowing the required cost-share balance to be managed across all projects with executed Agreements. Shore Protection & Dredging: SUPPORT inclusion of provisions in the Water Resources Development Act that provide for ongoing maintenance of shore protection, beach renourishment and dredging projects within Florida:  Authorization of projects with completed Chief of Engineers’ Reports (TBD) Explanation: Generally authorized by the Senate Environment & Public Works Committee and the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, the Water Resources Development Act authorizes the Civil Works program for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. It sets policy and authorizes new water resource-related civil works projects that address environmental, structural, navigational, beach management, flood protection and hydrology needs across the nation. 1  Eric Poole, Assistant Legislative Director Transportation & Infrastructure Email: epoole@fl-counties.com Phone: 850-922-4300 or Fax: 850-488-7501 FEDERAL SURFACE TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21): SUPPORT reauthorization of MAP-21and inclusion of the following provisions (TBD):  Increase in gas taxes to replenish the Highway Trust Fund  Full funding of transit programs  Efforts to enhance federal transportation revenue streams Explanation: The federal surface transportation program, MAP-21 (P.L. 112-141), was signed into law in July 2012. Funding surface transportation programs at over $105 billion for fiscal years 2013 and 2014, MAP-21 is the first long-term highway authorization enacted since 2005. It is set to expire on 9 September 30, 2014. DIKE REHABILITATION Herbert Hoover Dike Rehabilitation (Everglades Restoration): SUPPORT continued federal funding for the rehabilitation of the Herbert Hoover Dike. Explanation: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is undertaking major rehabilitation of the Herbert Hoover Dike (HHD). The goal of the rehabilitation is to reduce risk to nearby citizens through a system-wide approach that includes the replacement of water control structures within the HHD project. Lowering the risk of failure of the HHD should allow the Corps to better manage water levels in Lake Okeechobee and lessen the necessity and frequency of harmful freshwater discharges to coastal estuaries during high water times. The 143-mile earthen dike surrounds Lake Okeechobee, the second largest freshwater lake in the nation. FLOOD INSURANCE Biggert–Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act and FEMA Mapping Procedures: Monitor and report on the Biggert-Waters Act and the fiscal solvency of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Monitor and report on FEMA’s implementation of the reauthorization of the NFIP and changes to flood insurance rates. Explanation: Changes made to the National Flood Insurance Program and the release of inaccurate flood maps are causing dramatic increases in the cost of flood insurance. 2 Energy, Environment & Stephen James, Legislative Staff Attorney Email: sjames@fl-counties.com Agriculture Phone: 850-922-4300 Fax: 850-488-7501 Offshore Energy Production: Monitor and report on the potential for expansion of offshore energy exploration in Florida’s federal waters. Numeric Nutrient Criteria: Monitor and report on activities associated with proposed numeric water quality criteria for lakes, flowing waters and canals. Davin Suggs, Legislative Advocate Tax Reform Email: dsuggs@fl-counties.com Phone: 850-922-4300 Fax: 850-488-7501 Tax-Exempt Status of Municipal Bonds: 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. Marketplace Fairness Act: Monitor and report on the status of legislative provisions for the collection of sales and use taxes from remote sellers and the effect on a state’s ability to enforce state and local sales and use tax laws. Lisa Hurley, Legislative Advocate Entitlements & Appropriations Email: lhurley@fl-counties.com Phone: 850-922-4300 Fax: 850-488-7501 Block Grants: Monitor and report on the status of funding for the Social Services Block Grant, the Community Services Block Grant as well as the program’s formula grant structure. Oppose any efforts to eliminate or reduce block grant funding. Immigration: Monitor and report on the status of federal reimbursement to counties for all costs related to detaining, and transporting undocumented immigrants. Monitor and report on the reauthorization of the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP), to reimburse state and local costs of incarcerating undocumented criminal aliens. 3  Susan Harbin, Legislative Advocate Healthcare & Human Services Email: sharbin@fl-counties.com Phone: 850-922-4300 Fax: 850-488-7501 Health Care: Monitor and report on implications of health care reforms for potential fiscal and health delivery impacts. Monitor and report on implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and changes to Medicaid that would further shift the financial burden to states and counties. Veteran’s Health: SUPPORT NACo’s efforts to assure that:  U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) funds are made available 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.  U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) funds are made available to reimburse counties for the services provided to veterans eligible for DOD services.  Appropriate county level data are available so that counties know how many veterans are returning to their local areas. 4