Here you’ll find out what Senator Nelson is doing about issues that are important to Floridians.
National security
Iraq
Senator Nelson supported the war in Iraq based on the Bush Administration's presentations of intelligence indicating that Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction and posed an immediate threat to U.S. national security. Senator Nelson supports our troops as they continue their mission in Iraq, but feels this original intelligence was flawed and the Bush Administration lacked a plan for success in Iraq. He hopes we can bring our brave troops home as soon as possible, but believes we cannot leave Iraq until the Iraqi security forces are fully trained and the Iraqi government is both stable and representative. Senator Nelson believes this remains possible with the help of our allies and international partners.
In July 2003, Senator Nelson traveled to Iraq with a Congressional delegation where he visited with Florida soldiers, including National Guardsmen and Reservists.
Immigration
Sen. Nelson voted for the immigration bill because he feels it will help secure the country's borders. It contains several get-tough provisions, authored by Sen. Nelson, that will double the number of detention beds and require new technologies to guard the border, including unmanned aerial vehicles and other surveillance equipment.
The bill deals with the millions of illegal immigrants already in our country by deporting some while allowing certain others, who meet strict requirements, to request legal status. The latter must learn English, pass a criminal background check, maintain a lengthy record of employment, and pay all back taxes, plus a hefty fine.
Sen. Nelson believes the bill will make the country safer, while still meeting the needs of our economy, which depends heavily on immigrant workers, especially in the agriculture and service
industries.
Afghanistan
As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Bill Nelson traveled to Afghanistan and Pakistan in January 2002 with Sens. John McCain and Joseph Lieberman during the first congressional visit to the war zone. Nelson returned to Afghanistan in March 2002 and met with American military leaders and soldiers fighting the war on terrorism. Many of them were sent from Florida, which is home to several military bases central to the war effort, including U.S. Central Command in Tampa.
During his visit Nelson met also with the leaders of Pakistan and India, as the United States increases its efforts to ease tensions between the two nations.
Defense
Nelson believes that a strong military should be a top priority. A member of the Senate Committee on Armed Services, Nelson represents thousands of military families living in Florida. Top defense issues for Nelson include improving quality of life for members of the Armed Services and military retirees and their families. He has also pushed for continued research and development of a national missile defense system. Nelson included a provision in the 2002 defense authorization bill that makes it easier for overseas military personnel to vote.
Haiti
In an effort to spur economic recovery in Haiti, U.S. Senator Bill Nelson has re-introduced the Haiti Economy Recovery Opportunity Act. This piece of legislation is intended to improve the economic and political situation in Haiti by promoting trade. The bill would use trade incentives to encourage the Haitian government to make much needed reforms while encouraging direct foreign investment. The Haiti Economy Recovery Opportunity Act could result in as many as 50,000 new jobs in Haiti.
With Senator Nelson's help, the Senate approved the bill in 2004, although the legislation failed to receive a vote in the House.
Cuba
A resolution sponsored by Sen. Bill Nelson marking the one-year anniversary of the March 2003 crackdown on Varela Project signers and democracy activists in Cuba was approved by the U.S. Senate. It calls for the immediate release of all political prisoners, and it asks the United Nations Commission on Human Rights to demand outside inspectors be allowed to visit Cuba to assess and report on the extent of human rights abuses there.
Holocaust Restitution
Before his election to the Senate in November of 2000, Nelson served as Florida's treasurer and insurance commissioner in a job that pitted him against international insurance companies due to his aggressive efforts to recover what is owed to survivors of Nazi brutality. As a member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Nelson has strengthened the U.S. oversight of programs compensating Holocaust survivors. He helped get a tax exemption on Holocaust restitution payments, and successfully sought extra time for victims to file claims against insurers.
Homeland security
Middle East
National Guard and Reserve