The oil spill off the coast of Louisiana should drive a stake in the heart of the Florida Legislature's plans to let oil companies put rigs right off the coast of Florida. Meantime, I've succeeded in convincing the Obama administration to honor a 125-mile no-drill zone that I wrote into law with former Sen. Martinez in 2006. So for now, the operative policy and law of the United States is to use much of the eastern Gulf of Mexico as the last remaining training range for our military pilots.  Give that up to the oil boys and you sacrifice national security.  Meanwhile, gas prices fluctuate because speculators, who behave like condo-flippers, are allowed to buy and resell oil contracts.  Until we stop that, we’ll continue to be gouged at the pump.  Congress ought to be looking at that, and at a real alternative energy program - instead of trying to put oil rigs off the world-class tourist spots all along Florida’s coast.

Lawmakers warn bigger threat may come from oil lurking beneath the surface , media release, June 29, 2010

What gives: Nine extra Navy skimmers en route to Gulf, 18 yet to come? , media release, June 29, 2010

U.S. senator says Big Oil's challenge to Florida price-gouging law shows need for federal backstop , media release, June 29, 2010

At White House meeting, senator says no to drilling off Florida in climate, energy bills , media release, June 29, 2010

Senator calls on Adm. Allen for 'surge' in ships to catch extra oil let loose during a major storm , media release, June 25, 2010

Nelson: Extra Navy skimmers could be headed to Florida, after red-tape delayed their use in Gulf spill , media release, June 22, 2010

Big mortgage lenders agree to senators' request to help homeowners with bad drywall , media release, June 18, 2010

Senators to BP: cough up $20 billion advance , media release, June 14, 2010

Small businesses hit hard by oil spill could get tax break , media release, June 10, 2010

New legislation would let citizens with a stake in protecting Gulf stand guard over oil industry , media release, June 09, 2010

Nelson pushes for more military assets to combat, cleanup oil spill , media release, June 03, 2010

Florida senator says shuttle likely to fly next year , media release, May 28, 2010

Senate panel approves measure aimed at speeding up delivery of new ships to Mayport , media release, May 28, 2010

Lawmakers: It's time to close the revolving door between regulators and Big Oil once-and-for-all , media release, May 26, 2010

Nelson joins Boxer in urging Justice Dept. probe of BP safety, technology claims , media release, May 20, 2010

BP releases nine days of video showing oil leaks, dispersion on Gulf of Mexico floor , media release, May 20, 2010

New computer tracking forecast shows oil reaching Florida Keys in five days, Miami in 10 , media release, May 18, 2010

See most recent BP footage of plume , BP video, May 17, 2010

See BP footage of plume after intervention ,BP video, May 15, 2010

See BP footage of plume, BP video, May 10, 2010

See BP footage of plume before intervention, BP video, May 8, 2010

Florida lawmaker seeks any additional video of oil leak , media release, May 14, 2010

Nelson letter to BP America's Lamar McKay , letter, May 14, 2010

Florida senator attacks climate bill's oil-drilling provisions , media release, May 13, 2010

Nelson calls on Crist to back state constitutional ban on drilling in Florida waters , media release, May 11, 2010

In testimony, senator hopes Congress has appetite for tougher regulation of oil industry , media release, May 10, 2010

Could currents carry oil slick ashore in South Florida? , media release, May 10, 2010

Deepwater Horizon Response Numbers , Fact Sheet, May 3, 2010

Federal oil-rig regulations coming under scrutiny , media release, May 3, 2010

Letter asking for lobbying investigation ,letter, May 3, 2010

Letter asking for drilling probe ,letter, April 26, 2010

Hear an interview with Sen. Bill Nelson , audio, April 23, 2010

Florida senator calls for investigation of oil industry safety claims in wake of rig explosion , media release, April 23, 2010

Letter to Sec. Ken Salazar ,letter, April 23, 2010

Key Senator Weighs in on Obama Plan ,media release , March 31, 2010

Dems warn Kerry: Don't expand offshore drilling in climate change bill ,news article , March 25, 2010

Letter to Sens. Kerry, Graham, Lieberman ,letter , March 25, 2010

Sen. Bill Nelson's response to a report on oil drilling by Securing America's Future Energy , statement, January 19, 2010

Video of Colonel Mark Pafford: A military perspective on offshore drilling at a Florida House Committee, video, January 14, 2010

Sen. Bill Nelson bashes latest drilling plan , news articles , June 12, 2009

Video of Sen. Nelson on oil drilling off Florida's coast , video, June 11, 2009

Nelson: bring oil traders out of shadows into light of day , media release, January 13, 2009

Text of Sen. Nelson's remarks to the Everglades Coalition 24th Annual Conference , speech, January 09, 2009

Senators ask Congress to end oil industry sway over government officials , media release, September 17, 2008

Senator To Interior Secretary: Fire Those Tied To Scandal , news articles , September 11, 2008

'Oil for sex' scandal spurs calls for probe of big oil's influence , media release, September 11, 2008

U.S. senator: Inspector's reports reveal government ties to oil industry , media release, September 09, 2008

Key senator acts to block Interior on offshore drilling , media release, July 31, 2008

Our Opinion: Speculators help to pump up the pain , news articles , June 18, 2008

Congress now being asked to ban oil trading , media release, June 16, 2008

Drilling off Florida isn't the answer , published column, May 21, 2008

Oil industry tries again for offshore drilling, Senate reaffirms coastal protections , media release, March 13, 2008