Here you’ll find out what Senator Nelson is doing about issues that are important to Floridians.
Veterans
Ensuring that Florida's veterans and military retirees receive their well-earned benefits and quality services from the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense is one of Senator Nelson's top priorities.
Veterans Health Care
Over-crowded facilities and delayed delivery of services have become common in Florida's veterans' health care system. Our state has the second largest number of veterans in the country, and needs additional funding to ensure quality health care services.
Senator Nelson continues to support increased funding and initiatives to expand the choices available to veterans. He is a cosponsor of legislation that will make veterans' health care funding mandatory so it will not have to compete with other important programs for federal dollars.
Survivor Benefits
In November 2005, Senator Nelson sponsored a provision adopted in the Senate version of the annual defense bill that restores survivor benefits for those who receive compensation from both the VA and the Department of Defense. This would end the previous practice of reducing the Department of Defense's survivor benefits when a person qualifies for assistance from both agencies. This legislation would help an estimated 55,000 widows, widowers and orphans.
Captain Scott Speicher
Nelson also has introduced legislation, which has passed the Senate, to drive defense officials to investigate the fate of missing Navy pilot, Captain Scott Speicher, of Jacksonville. The senator also has asked American allies in the Middle East to use their influence with Iraq to help determine what happened to Speicher, whose plane was shot down at the start of the Gulf War.
Concurrent receipt
Although thousands of our military retirees have earned and deserve retired pay and disability benefits, they cannot concurrently receive both. Senator Nelson was a cosponsor of the Veterans' and Military Personnel Fairness Act of 2003, which would have changed this law. He has been a strong supporter of fixing this problem in the past and will continue to fight for concurrent receipt in the future.
Instant cash schemes
Nelson introduced legislation backed by the nation's veterans' groups to curb financial schemes that target veterans and deprive them of their future pension or disability checks. Some private companies offer one-time lump sums of "instant cash" in exchange for years of monthly veterans' benefits checks. In effect, these financial arrangements are loans at outrageous interest rates, sometimes as high as 60 to 90 percent. The Veterans' Benefits and Pensions Protection Act (S.257) will close the legal loophole these companies are exploiting to profit from unsuspecting veterans.
Cemeteries
Nelson is supporting legislation to create a new cemetary for veterans. It's a central element of our national character to pay solemn tribute to the service of those who have worn the uniform of our armed forces and placed themselves in harm's way to defend our freedom and way of life. Florida's veterans population is the second largest, behind only California, with many residing in northeast Florida. There is a definite need for an additional cemetery, especially to serve that area. The closet existing cemetery in St. Augustine is full. So, to meet our obligations to the veterans of northeast Florida we must act now to have a facility established by 2006 when the passing of our World War II veterans' is expected to reach their peak.