Hot topics

Senator Nelson's comments on issues making headlines:

Oil industry plan to drill off the coast of Florida

         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 wildly 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.

Health care

I’ve heard countless stories of people in the middle of treatment who suddenly find their health coverage cancelled; Or, people who simply cannot afford the high out-of-pocket medical expenses.  We can’t afford to sit by and do nothing anymore.

In America today, we ought to have health care that is both available and affordable for all people. And that’s what the Finance Committee’s legislation attempts to do. It’s not perfect, but it’ll get improved along the way.  It’s a first step in a long legislative process.

Overseas military operations

Al Qaeda and the Taliban remain a threat to U.S. interests.  That’s why I support military and diplomatic efforts to eliminate terrorist safe havens in Afghanistan.  Our national security depends at least in part on long-term stability not only in Afghanistan, but also in Pakistan.  So I support an aggressive diplomatic approach on both sides of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, while giving the people of these war-torn countries what they need to reject extremists who seek safe haven there.   Finally, we have to wind down our operations in Iraq  - and, help steady the new government.