Bill's Blog
Obama aiming to get it right
Posted by Bill Nelson l October 7, 2009
The president has told congressional leaders there won't be a largereduction in troops in Afghansitan. Meantime, he's studying whether to increase our forces there. It may take additional troops to hunt down
terrorists, keep up the pressure in the Pakistan border region and help build Afghanistan's own army. It's good the president has this under urgent consideration. The situation in Afghanistan directly impacts our national security - and, we have to get it right.
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A bittersweet call
Posted by Bill Nelson l August 3, 2009
The early morning call over the weekend from the Navy was bittersweet -they had finally put an end to the decades-long mystery of the
disappearance of Navy pilot Capt. Scott Speicher of Jacksonville, Florida.
The Marines had unearthed a remote desert grave in Iraq and found the remains of Capt. Speicher. It brings to an end the saga that began in
January 1991, on the first night of the first Gulf War. That’s when his plane was shot down and he was declared the first casualty of that war. But
there was never definitive proof of what happened to him.
That’s why I pressed the Pentagon on behalf of his family more than five years ago to renew a search, based on evidence that Capt. Speicher may have survived the crash. It all comes down to one basic principle: never leave a downed pilot behind.
Now his family can finally heal after 18 years of wondering what happened to a husband and father.
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Bill's Blog
A bittersweet call
Posted by Bill Nelson l August 3, 2009
The early morning call over the weekend from the Navy was bittersweet -they had finally put an end to the decades-long mystery of the
disappearance of Navy pilot Capt. Scott Speicher of Jacksonville, Florida.
The Marines had unearthed a remote desert grave in Iraq and found the remains of Capt. Speicher. It brings to an end the saga that began in
January 1991, on the first night of the first Gulf War. That’s when his plane was shot down and he was declared the first casualty of that war. But
there was never definitive proof of what happened to him.
That’s why I pressed the Pentagon on behalf of his family more than five years ago to renew a search, based on evidence that Capt. Speicher may have survived the crash. It all comes down to one basic principle: never leave a downed pilot behind.
Now his family can finally heal after 18 years of wondering what happened to a husband and father.
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Put an end to tourism
blacklisting
Posted by Bill Nelson l July 27, 2009
Tourism is a vital part of my state’s economy, and I know that many Florida cities offer some of the finest, most competitive prices on hotels and conference facilities. That’s why I was stunned when I found out somefederal agencies might be blacklisting Florida cities for travel and
conferences because of their proximity to vacation destinations.
Talk about a double-whammy in tough economic times that have seen
tourism and business travel dropping like a rock.
Look, it’s one thing to avoid non-essential trips to save taxpayers money. I can understand that. But like I told an Associated Press reporter, “It’s another thing if it’s legitimate travel and you then avoid certain cities just because of where they are.”
The hotel industry in Florida is already facing a decline without the government’s help. Orlando hotels are filling only 64.8 percent of their rooms. Compared with a year ago, that’s a decline of 7.8 percent.
So I’ve drafted legislation to make it illegal for federal government agencies to design travel policies that blacklist certain U.S. cities simply because they’re seen as tourism spots. I’m happy to say there’s a solid team of House members from Florida and Nevada ( home of Las Vegas ) who agree with me on this issue.
The eight of them sent a letter Thursday to the acting U.S. comptroller asking for an investigation of policies used to determine where to hold meetings. My Senate colleague from Florida Mel Martinez has done likewise.Working together, we ought to be able to put an end to any such practice.
** This was also posted on The Hill’s Congress Blog.
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They’re at it again
Posted by Bill Nelson l June 16, 2009
If you live in one of Florida’s cities on the Gulf Coast you may already know that the oil industry is at it again. Once again, the oil boys have gotten their way, when a Senate panel voted to allow oil drilling as close as ten miles to Florida’s coast.Since the near-shore drilling measure was added to a larger energy bill, there is still time to stop this from becoming law. And I’ll do everything I can to do just that.
On Friday I began a swing through several of Florida’s Gulf coast cities to make the case. The tour began in Tampa, where I spoke at the Florida Aquarium - an incredible location featuring some of the state’s marine life from the common to the rare. I chose that spot to highlight the fragility of our state’s one-of-a-kind environment.
But it’s not just our environment that would be wrecked, our way of life and economy is at stake here. With oil rigs in sight - as close as 10 miles - from the shore, our $65-billion tourism economy would be ruined.
Another issue that can’t be left out of this debate is national security. The Pentagon submitted a letter stating that drilling would interfere with the last remaining unfettered training range for U.S. military pilots in the eastern Gulf of Mexico.
As I make my way through Tallahassee, Panama City and Pensacola today, I’m fighting to keep oil companies from trashing our economy, our environment and our national security.
As a recent Scripps-Howard newspaper editorial writer recently said: This Senate bill, like many before it backed by Big Oil special interests, needs to be defeated for the sake of a better energy future, a better environment and for the economic interests of the state of Florida.
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Honoring space pioneers on the 40th anniversary of the moon landing
Posted by Bill Nelson l May 1, 2009
As we approach the 40th anniversary of men first landing on anothercelestial body, I, along with many of my colleagues in Congress, want to honor two major firsts from the early days of America’s space program, starting with the lunar landing.
That’s why today we announced legislation to bestow the distinguished Congressional Gold Medal - the highest civilian award given by Congress - on the crew of Apollo 11 that carried out the near-miraculous July 20, 1969 moon landing. Neil A. Armstrong and Edwin E. “Buzz” Aldrin Jr. were the first and second humans to set boot on the moon, while command module pilot Michael Collins orbited above.
The “New Frontier Congressional Gold Medal,” would also honor the first American who orbited the Earth, John Herschel Glenn Jr. At 87, Glenn is retired from the U.S. Senate and living in his home state of Ohio.
Tomorrow I’ll be going to KSC to be at the induction of three space explorers into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame. The newest inductees are space shuttle veterans George “Pinky” Nelson, William Shepherd and Jim Wetherbee. They’ll be joining the elite ranks of 70 other legendary astronauts that already include Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, Michael Collins and John Glenn.
While I’m at KSC this weekend, I will definitely take a moment to think about the amazing achievements we have made, and how strong leadership and bold vision has changed not just the space program, but all of our lives.
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Mr. Tebow goes to Washington
Posted by Bill Nelson l April 23, 2009
Today I had the opportunity to meet with the University of Florida Gator football team, who were visiting Washington to take part in a ceremony honoring the 2008 Championship squad. It was great getting to meet all the young men who pulled off such an exciting win against the Oklahoma Sooners in January’s championship game. With two football championships in just three years, it sure is great to be a Florida Gator!
Now the countdown starts for next season, and with quarterback and Heisman winner Tim Tebow returning for his senior season, I can’t wait to see which senator will owe me after next year’s friendly BCS wager.
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A 'long-distance' call to orbiting astronauts
Posted by Bill Nelson l March 24, 2009
I had a pretty exciting time this morning when I joined President Obama and a few students for a call to astronauts aboard the International Space Station. It made me think of the days I spent in orbit. In this video you can hear me talking to the folks on the ISS.
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An example of American ingenuity
Posted by Bill Nelson l March 11, 2009
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President Obama’s speech
to Congress, the nation
Posted by Bill Nelson l February 24, 2009
I think what President Obama did was comparable to what FDR did in hisfirst inaugural during the Great Depression, when he said, “The only thing
we have to fear is fear itself.” In essence, he was telling Americans it was necessary to shake the pessimism that was paralyzing the nation before
the economy could be turned around. Tonight, like FDR, this president
gave us a sober assessment of our economy. He also told us what will be done to halt this crisis and move forward: getting the national debt under control, fixing the mortgage crisis that’s been at the center of this mess;
and of government investing money in projects that will create jobs. The president acknowledged it will be tough to turn things around, but he
showed us the confidence that we can – and, we will.
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An historic tradition
Posted by Bill Nelson l February 24, 2009
As I await President Obama’s speech before a joint session of Congressand to the nation tonight, I can’t help but think about some of the people
who did the same thing – long ago. Americans by the thousands listened
as Calvin Coolidge's 1923 speech was delivered in the very first broadcast
of the address on radio. They watched Harry Truman’s speech to Congress
in 1947 - the first shown on television. And they were there in 1962 when
John Kennedy boldly said, “We have undertaken in the past year a great
new effort in outer space . . . which we hope will place one of our citizens
on the moon . . . to develop in a new frontier of science, commerce and cooperation” for the Free World. And, they watched three years later, when President Johnson delivered the first night-time talk and outlined his vision
for a Great New Society “to improve the quality of life for all.” Even against
this backdrop, President Obama’s speech tonight is one of the most anticipated in decades.
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Here's some of what I've had
to say about the stimulus
Posted by Bill Nelson l February 13, 2009
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Help find Florida's finest folks
Posted by Bill Nelson l February 6, 2009
Across the state, there are many citizens who go above and beyond tohelp others in their community. Through their acts of courage and
generosity, they have helped better our nation. This is why I’m asking Floridians to help me in the search for our state’s unsung heroes.
Fifty-one nominees, one from each state and D.C., will be chosen as
finalists for the national “Above and Beyond Citizen Honors.” Three of
these finalists will receive the prestigious award, which is given by Congressional Medal of Honor recipients.
Just as the Medal of Honor recipients were recognized for their acts of
valor in military combat, those honored as “Above and Beyond” citizens
will receive similar recognition for their own acts of selflessness.
Please take the time to pay tribute to the people in your community who
are deserving of this privilege. Nominate them, via my website, before the
Feb. 20 deadline; and, help Florida’s finest folks receive the recognition
they deserve.
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Bob Levinson, missing in Iran
Posted by Bill Nelson l February 4, 2009
You may have seen in the news recently a story about a Floridian who went missing under mysterious circumstances when he was on a trip to Iran in March 2007.His name is Robert Levinson, he has a wife and seven children, and I have made a personal promise to them that I will do everything in my power to help return the father and husband home to Coral Springs.
That’s why yesterday, Florida Congressman Robert Wexler and I met with Bob’s family to talk to the press about the importance of gaining broad diplomatic support for the search for the retired F.B.I. agent. Bob’s wife Christine and I also spoke about my belief that her husband is still alive, and being held prisoner in Iran. Below is the piece that ran this morning on NBC's Today Show.
NBC News Video
I have been personally invested in this case for some time, and have, on a number of occasions, urged the Iranian government to cooperate fully in an effort to find Mr. Levinson. I see this situation as an opportunity for Iran to improve its relations with the U.S.
Among the U.S. officials I have spoken to is Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. And she has pledged her full support in the quest to end the Levinson family’s nightmare.
Now, we need a humanitarian gesture from the government of Iran.
If you have any information that could be useful, please go to the website Help Bob Levinson.
Floridians' top concerns: retirement, health care, jobs
Posted by Bill Nelson l January 29, 2009
Floridians' Economic Worries
I want to thank all of you who took a moment to share your concerns about the economy via our first e-survey. It’s clear your three chief concerns are loss of retirement income, affordable health care and job stability.
I am going to use your input to help make the case to my colleagues in the Senate that when we address the nation’s economic woes, we must extend unemployment benefits and include provisions to help cover health insurance costs for those struggling to find work.
Meantime, here are a few ways I’ve been trying to help those who are finding themselves at the mercy of this economy.
I helped draft the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. This will expand the scope of Medicaid funding and improve access to health care. This bill has great potential to help Floridians in need of assistance, because it focuses on states, like Florida, who need the most support.
Florida’s drastic rise in unemployment deserves immediate attention and swift action. The Senate’s stimulus package will provide jobs that lay a foundation for a clean-energy future. It also has special provisions that will help homeowners who are facing foreclosure.
I’m also working to ensure that your tax money is used not to perpetuate the problems at hand, but to put an end to them. I’m pushing legislation that would help protect your retirement money, and calls for transparency of spending. Like you, I believe we deserve to know exactly how our tax money is spent.
Your participation in our survey is greatly appreciated. All told, we heard from 42,881 of you. If we continue to work together, I feel confident that we can rebuild our economy and help the people who need it most in these difficult times.
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A moment in time
Posted by Bill Nelson l January 22, 2009
Barack Obama’s inauguration was an historic moment for our nation. I will never forget looking out across the National Mall, and taking in a view such as I’d never seen before: a seemingly endless sea of people. It was truly an indescribable feeling to see so many people from all walks of life coming together in support of our country’s values and ideals. And in homes and shops across the nation, people huddled around TV screens, and cheered for the beginning of a new era. I found President Obama’s speech uplifting and hopeful; and, I believe those same feelings resonated among the tens of millions of people watching.In his pre-inaugural address at the Lincoln Memorial, President Obama had asked that we try to see ourselves in each other. This idea of unity was noticeable throughout the week, and the feeling in our nation’s capital reflected his words. Alone, it is hard to fix an entire nation. Together, it has become clear that WE CAN!
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Final decision on Mayport
Posted by Bill Nelson l January 14, 2009
I just got some good news, not just for the state of Florida, but our national security. The Secretary of the Navy has just signed off on homeporting a nuclear carrier at Mayport Naval Station in Jacksonville. This will spread out our Atlantic-based nuclear carriers, instead of keeping them all at just one base. Keeping all the carriers in just one port is too great a risk. You can listen to my full remarks on the homeporting of Mayport.Send Bill a comment
Fixing the oil market
Posted by Bill Nelson l January 13, 2009
The outrage that many of us were feeling at having to pay an arm and a leg to fill our tank has mostly subsided with falling oil prices. But there is nothing to stop such a run up in prices from happening again.Especially since Wall Street speculators, not supply and demand, control the price of oil. If you didn’t believe this before, you will after seeing this 60 Minutes piece on oil prices increasing as supply was going up and demand going down. It ran this past Sunday, and is a great commentary on how we ended up paying $4 or more for a gallon gasoline.
From CBSnews.com
Today, I’m reintroducing my bill to end the unregulated speculative trading of oil. While we can be happy gas prices are low now, we must fix the system that allowed investors to artificially inflate prices.
BC-YES! The thrill of victory
Posted by Bill Nelson l January 9, 2009
In the bigger picture, why should we get excited about a college football game like the BCS Championship?Well, for one, the game between the Florida Gators and Oklahoma Sooners showed us team spirit is still very much alive and well in this country, despite the many challenges we face.
As a bracelet quarterback Tim Tebow wears says: "Never Let Your Teammates Down."
And right after the Gators won their second national football championship in three years, Florida offensive star Percy Harvin beamed, "There's no better feeling."
Agreed. It’s GREAT to BE A Florida Gator !
For the entire Gator Nation, the 24-14 victory over the Sooners was one of those “Master Card” priceless moments.
But I’ll also never forget the expressionless face of the Sooners’ coach after Florida took the game after Tebow dunk-passed for that final touchdown. It was a nail-biter up until then. Congratulations to both Florida and Oklahoma for a game well played.
Needless to say, I’m now looking forward to hearing from Oklahoma’s Sen. Tom Coburn – literally.
If you want to hear more about my thoughts on the Gator victory, check out an interview I did on a Miami Radio show.
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Economic boost a top priority
Posted by Bill Nelson l January 6, 2009
TV and newspaper headlines tell the story:
"Obama pushes stimulus plan," says CBS.
"Obama said to favor $775 billion for stimulus plan," says the BBC.
And, says the Associated Press, "Obama stimulus plan boosts business tax refunds."
Indeed, as Congress convenes in the New Year, fixing the ailing American economy will be the top priority of lawmakers and the new president.
As a member of key Senate panels, I'll be working closely with the White House on an economic stimulus package that hopefully will include funding to address a number of the requests from Florida's governor and the state's mayors, such as for roads, bridges and even development of new solar and wind energy technologies.
I'm also going to fight to make sure any financial package contains a boost in unemployment benefits and help for homeowners facing foreclosure. The current financial crisis started with a massive housing bubble that burst and left millions of homeowners facing default on their mortgages. We have to fix the root cause of the problem.
As I did in the last two sessions of Congress, I'll keep pushing to end our dependence on foreign oil, while fighting those who falsely promise cheap gas from putting oil rigs off of Florida's beaches. I cannot support a greedy and cruel deceit that would threaten our state's $65-billion tourism driven economy.
And, here are some other initiatives I plan to pursue in the coming months:
I'll also be advocating on behalf of the nation's space program.
Of course, there are huge benefits economically for Florida. But there is another reason we undertake the risk and invest in space exploration.
It's not only to pursue science, or to test technology, or to develop a high-tech workforce, or even to extend human civilization. We do it because it's in our nature.
It's been said that there are two fundamental differences between humans and other species. We have souls. And we are curious.
It's also been said that the exploration of space is a testament to these differences. Curiosity drives us to explore. And our soul gives meaning to this endeavor. This I believe.
I also believe that despite the many serious challenges facing America this is going to be a great year; and, I'm looking forward to all we are going to accomplish.
"Obama pushes stimulus plan," says CBS.
"Obama said to favor $775 billion for stimulus plan," says the BBC.
And, says the Associated Press, "Obama stimulus plan boosts business tax refunds."
Indeed, as Congress convenes in the New Year, fixing the ailing American economy will be the top priority of lawmakers and the new president.
As a member of key Senate panels, I'll be working closely with the White House on an economic stimulus package that hopefully will include funding to address a number of the requests from Florida's governor and the state's mayors, such as for roads, bridges and even development of new solar and wind energy technologies.
I'm also going to fight to make sure any financial package contains a boost in unemployment benefits and help for homeowners facing foreclosure. The current financial crisis started with a massive housing bubble that burst and left millions of homeowners facing default on their mortgages. We have to fix the root cause of the problem.
As I did in the last two sessions of Congress, I'll keep pushing to end our dependence on foreign oil, while fighting those who falsely promise cheap gas from putting oil rigs off of Florida's beaches. I cannot support a greedy and cruel deceit that would threaten our state's $65-billion tourism driven economy.
And, here are some other initiatives I plan to pursue in the coming months:
- Reforming the way we hold presidential elections by abolishing the Electoral College and establishing a system of rotating presidential primaries. We don't ever want a repeat of the 2000 election.
- Moving the nation closer to creating a national disaster fund for states at risk from hurricanes, earthquakes, wildfires, drought and flooding.
- Getting restoration of America's Everglades back on track. Eight years ago, we created a plan to revive the River of Grass. It's time to start turning the dirt on overdue projects.
I'll also be advocating on behalf of the nation's space program.
Of course, there are huge benefits economically for Florida. But there is another reason we undertake the risk and invest in space exploration.
It's not only to pursue science, or to test technology, or to develop a high-tech workforce, or even to extend human civilization. We do it because it's in our nature.
It's been said that there are two fundamental differences between humans and other species. We have souls. And we are curious.
It's also been said that the exploration of space is a testament to these differences. Curiosity drives us to explore. And our soul gives meaning to this endeavor. This I believe.
I also believe that despite the many serious challenges facing America this is going to be a great year; and, I'm looking forward to all we are going to accomplish.
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