Sen. Bill Nelson announced today that he will be voting against the nomination of Rep. Tom Price to head the Dept. of Health and Human Services.
“Seniors can’t take a chance on Congressman Price as their HHS secretary by virtue of what he’s already said and what his record is in the Congress,” Nelson said on the Senate floor this afternoon. “His plan would give seniors a fixed dollar amount – that’s the voucher – to buy insurance. That, most every economist would tell you, would mean higher monthly premiums. According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, turning Medicare into a voucher program would cause seniors to pay 11% more out of their pocket. Is that what you want to do to our senior citizens? I don’t think so …
“The congressman also supports – get this – raising the Medicare eligibility age to 67 forcing seniors to wait for benefits they earned during their working years …
“Our country deserves an HHS secretary who will uphold those promises, not inflict deep cuts that alter the financial security Medicare provides Americans in their later years. And so for these reasons and others, sometime in this next 11 and a half hours when we vote, I’m going to vote no on this nominee. There’s too much at stake for our seniors to give this nominee the control over these programs.”
Here’s a link to watch the above excerpts of Nelson’s remarks: https://youtu.be/urgyVhug90w
Sen. Bill Nelson
Senators move to protect scientists from political interference
More than two dozen Democratic senators filed a bill late Tuesday aimed at protecting government scientists from political interference.
The legislation, led by U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), comes in the wake of recent reports that Trump administration officials had placed gag orders on employees at the EPA.
“Few things are more un-American than censorship, especially when it would keep the public in the dark on vital public health and safety information, such as climate change and sea level rise,” said Nelson, who serves as the top Democrat on the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. “Any attempt to intimidate or muzzle scientists must be stopped.”
Among other things, the legislation (S.338) would:
- Reaffirm the principle of open communication of scientific findings and prevent the suppression of scientific findings;
- Ensure that scientists are allowed to communicate their findings with the public, press, and Congress;
- Direct federal agencies to develop scientific integrity policies that include whistleblower protections; and,
- Require scientific integrity policies to be posted online and given to all new hires
Since November, more than 5,000 scientists, including many Nobel Prize winners, have signed an open letter urging President Trump and Congress to preserve scientific integrity.
Nelson was joined on the legislation by Sens. Peters, Udall, Schatz, Blumenthal, Coons, Gillibrand, Merkley, Van Hollen, Whitehouse, Baldwin, Reed, Heinrich, Feinstein, Warren, Hassan, Stabenow, Booker, Cantwell, Warner, Shaheen, Franken, Cardin, Murray, Carper, Cortez Masto, Markey and Wyden.
A copy of the legislation is available here.
Sen. Bill Nelson statement re: Supreme Court nominee
U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) issued the following statement today regarding Judge Neil Gorsuch’s nomination to the Supreme Court:
“Of course, I’m going to talk to him and listen to the Judiciary Committee hearing. But I have real concerns about what I believe are two of the most fundamental rights in our democracy: the right to vote and the right to know who you are voting for. And I specifically want to know how the judge feels about the suppression of voting rights and about the amount of undisclosed, unlimited money in campaigns.”
Florida leaders, elected officials call on Sens. Nelson and Rubio to reject Neil Gorsuch, Trump’s Supreme Court nominee
During a press call today, Florida leaders and elected officials called on Sens. Nelson and Rubio to reject Neil Gorsuch, President Donald Trump’s nominee to the Supreme Court. Neil Gorsuch has made clear that he’ll put the interests of the wealthy and powerful above the rights of ordinary Americans. This nomination poses a unique threat to the rights of women, immigrants, LGBTQ people, and working families.
Shevrin Jones, State Representative:
“Americans count on the Supreme Court to protect the rights of all people, not just the rich and powerful. Judge Gorsuch, though, has repeatedly ruled in favor of big corporations, hurting working people and everyday Americans. If Gorsuch is confirmed to the bench, we’d see him sacrifice the rights of working people, stack the deck against consumers and in favor of corporations, and restrict access to health care for women and millions of poor Americans. Judge Gorsuch was hand-picked by powerful institutions for his loyalty to a judicial ideology that sacrifices the interests of ordinary Americans.”
Daisy Baez, State Representative:
“When I was serving in the Army, I took an oath to defend the U.S. Constitution. When I became a U.S. citizen, I took an oath to defend the Constitution. And when I was sworn in as a state representative, I took an oath to defend the Constitution. So here I am, defending the Constitution! Americans need a Supreme Court that will protect our Constitutional rights and promote justice for all, including American immigrants. Unfortunately, Judge Gorsuch will be anything but a fair-minded judge who protects all Americans. He’s tried to make it harder for Americans to hold big corporations accountable, and he would be a rubber stamp—not the check the judiciary is supposed to be—for Trump and his administration.”
Tony Lima, Executive Director of SAVE:
“Freedom, opportunity, and equality for all are essential principles of the American Dream. Americans have often turned to the Supreme Court to uphold those values and reject policies based in bigotry and discrimination. But Judge Gorsuch would turn his back on LGBTQ rights. His ruling in Hobby Lobby, which allowed corporations to refuse to offer birth control as part of healthcare coverage, raises serious red flags. And Gorsuch has criticized those who turn to the courts to protect LGBTQ rights! We insist that our Senators stand up for Floridians and fundamental American and constitutional principles and say no to Gorsuch.”
Damien Filer, Why Courts Matter Coalition spokesperson:
“In the system of checks and balances designed by our country’s founders, the Supreme Court plays a crucial role in defending the promises of the Constitution. But that only works if we have Supreme Court justices who are willing to do so. When we don’t, we can see disastrous results, like the Supreme Court’s conservatives voting to gut the Voting Rights Act, and opening the door to politicians making it harder for people to vote. Americans have made it clear that they are willing to stand up to our new president when he betrays our constitutional values. The Senate has a responsibility to ensure this nominee won’t be a rubber stamp for President Trump, especially when Trump’s actions threaten fundamental principles like religious or reproductive freedom, the rights of workers and the rights of all Americans to breathe clean air. We urge Floridians to get informed, get engaged and get active and let Senators Nelson and Rubio know this nominee is simply out of touch with mainstream American values.
Sen. Nelson will vote 'no' on DeVos
Sen. Bill Nelson announced today that he will be voting against the nomination of Betsy DeVos to be Secretary of Education.
“I will be joining my Republican colleagues Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski in voting ‘no’ against Betsy DeVos,” Nelson said.
Sen. Nelson comment on Trump's Supreme Court nomination
Following is a comment from U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson on
the president’s nomination for the Supreme Court:
“The confirmation of a Supreme Court justice is an awesome responsibility that I gladly accept. I will base my decision on a full examination of Judge Gorsuch’s judicial record and his responses to senators’ questions.”
Sen. Bill Nelson's remarks on Rex Tillerson
U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson
Remarks on the Senate floor
January 31, 2017
Sen. Nelson: Mr. President, I rise to speak in opposition to the confirmation of Rex Tillerson, the president’s nominee to be our next secretary of state.
And I’ll tell you why. Two words: Vladimir Putin.
Mr. President, Rex Tillerson’s ties to Russia have been widely reported. The senator from Massachusetts has outlined a number of them specifically – specifically his ties to President Putin, who awarded him the “Order of Friendship” after signing deals with the state-owned oil company Rosneft.
Now isn’t the time to cozy up to Russia. Now is the time to stand up to Russian aggression—in Crimea, in Eastern Ukraine, and Syria. Just yesterday, we heard reports of another outbreak of fighting between Ukrainian forces and Russian-backed separatists in the war-torn Eastern Ukraine.
All you have to do, Mr. President, is speak to a Ukrainian and let them tell you, as I met with the former prime minister yesterday, and I will be meeting with a former member of their parliament — let them tell you of what it’s like to have the Russian army march on your country and take part of it away as they did with Crimea and then come in under the disguise of little green men as if they did not have ties to the Russian army, and that’s going on in eastern Ukraine right now.
And, our own Intelligence Community has told us that the Russian President personally ordered a campaign to influence the 2016 presidential election right here in the US. That campaign—a mix of covert Russian operations, cyber-attacks and cyber operations and propaganda—was only the latest in a series of efforts to undermine American leadership and democracies around the world. And what’s coming next for the elections in Europe in the next few months?
Russia is testing us. Mr. President, I’m concerned that Mr. Tillerson cannot stand up to the Russian president, who I am afraid thinks of himself as the next Russian czar.
So, as Mr. Tillerson’s past as Exxon’s CEO, he lobbied against sanctions on Russia for invading and seizing Crimea. The very sanctions that we and our allies have put on Russia for taking over sovereign territory of another independent country. And now it’s not clear—as our nation’s top diplomat—that Mr. Tillerson would fight to keep the sanctions in place, even as Mr. Trump is now considering lifting them and despite clear evidence of Russia’s continued aggression.
And, during his confirmation hearing, Mr. Tillerson refused to condemn Russian and Syrian bombings in Aleppo as war crimes, a question that was proffered to him by the senator, my colleague, who happens to sit in the chair right now.
Mr. President, I also have serious concerns that Mr. Tillerson doesn’t understand the urgent need to combat climate change.
You don’t have to remind us about climate change in Florida. South Florida is ground zero of climate change. Miami Beach is awash at the seasonal high tides as the water flows over the curbs and over the streets, causing Miami Beach to spend hundreds of millions in taxpayer dollars to install pump stations, raise the roads, and address all kinds of flooding and saltwater intrusion. Other south Florida communities have had to move their water well locations further west because of the intrusion of south Florida into the fresh water aquifer.
Climate change is not a problem that we’re going to face some day in the future. It’s a daily struggle for our communities along our coast all over America. The state department — the United States State Department is responsible for engaging with other countries to confront both the cause of climate change and the devastating impact of drought, sea level, and sea-level rise and severe weather.
And by the way, speaking of sea level rise, this senator convened a meeting of the Senate commerce committee in Miami Beach a couple of years ago. We had testimony from a NASA scientist that measurements – not forecasts, not projections – but measurements in the last 40 years of sea level rise in south Florida was five to eight inches higher. That is sea level rise.
That’s why even the Department of Defense is concerned. Climate change has the potential to destabilize nations. How about Bangladesh? It has the potential to drastically reduce potable water supplies and result in crop loss and food shortage and to create climate refugees. We simply cannot play fast and loose with the science that will help save our planet.
The top diplomat of our country has to confront the reality of climate change today and to work on it immediately. Mr. Tillerson has not adequately laid out a plan to address that global climate crisis.
And so for all the reasons that I have outlined, including many more, Mr. President, I will vote no.
Nelson to lead new Senate panel on cybersecurity
In the wake of Russia’s alleged interference in the 2016 election, the Senate Armed Services Committee announced today that it has formed a new subcommittee to focus on cyber threats facing the United States.
U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL), a senior member of the Armed Services Committee and a former member of the Senate’s Intelligence Committee, will serve as the top Democrat on the new panel. He says that in addition to ensuring the proper policies, strategies and resources are in place to defend the U.S. in cyberspace, the new subcommittee will hold the administration accountable if they fail to adequately respond to a future attack.
“You can’t just sit on your hands and do nothing,” Nelson said. “If we’re going to deter our enemies from attacking us, we have to make it painfully obvious that the consequences are going to be so severe that they won’t want to do it in the first place.”
Sen. Nelson calls for increase in airport security in wake of shooting
U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, the top Democrat on the Senate Commerce Committee which oversees the FAA, called for an increase in airport security in the wake of Friday’s deadly shooting at the Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
Nelson made the comments during his opening remarks at the Commerce Committee’s confirmation hearing today for Elaine Chao, the president-elect’s nominee to be the next Secretary of Transportation.
“While we’ve made some progress in last year’s FAA bill to double the number of the VIPR teams, the dog teams, and bolster the screening of airport workers, this tragic shooting serves as reminder that our work to improve airport security remains a constant challenge,” Nelson said. “This year’s FAA reauthorization bill, that we will have to take up, could be a good place to start if more needs to be done to prevent similar tragedies from occurring.”
Video of Nelson’s remarks is available here: https://youtu.be/cLrl4tprRG4
And here’s a transcript:
Sen. Bill Nelson
Remarks at Senate Commerce Committee Hearing
January 11, 2017
Sen. Nelson: As we start out, I want to take a minute to express, on behalf of the Committee, condolences to the friends and loved ones of the victims of Friday’s horrific shooting at Fort Lauderdale’s airport.
And I want to thank the heroic work that was undertaken by first responders and law enforcement personnel in responding.
And although the investigation remains ongoing, I expect all of us in the Congress to continue exploring ways to protect the traveling public in light of this tragic incident. And while we’ve made some progress in last year’s FAA bill to double the number of the VIPR teams, the dog teams, and bolster the screening of airport workers, this tragic shooting serves as reminder that our work to improve airport security remains a constant challenge.
This year’s FAA reauthorization bill that we will have to take up could be a good place to start if more needs to be done to prevent similar tragedies from occurring.
[…]
Sen. Nelson calls for increased funding to fight screwworm
U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson is calling on the federal government to step up its response to the infestation of New World screwworm in Florida.
Federal officials confirmed earlier this week that the flesh-eating parasite had been found in a stray dog near Homestead, Florida. It’s the first time in more than 30 years that the screwworm has been found on Florida’s mainland. And Nelson says that if state and federal wildlife officials don’t act quickly, Florida’s nearly $1 billion cattle industry could soon be at risk.
“If we don’t move aggressively to halt the spread of this dangerous pest, the result could be catastrophic for Florida’s wildlife and livestock industry,” Nelson wrote in a letter sent today to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Interior Secretary Sally Jewell. “More than 130 endangered Key deer have already fallen victim to the screwworm. We cannot allow the white-tailed deer population, or the endangered Florida panther, or Florida’s nearly $1 billion beef industry to collapse too.”
Nelson says he wants the federal government to provide additional funding to better monitor and contain the screwworms’ spread.
Below is the full text of Nelson’s letter to Vilsack and Jewell:
January 11, 2017
The Honorable Tom Vilsack
Secretary
U.S. Department of Agriculture
1400 Independence Avenue SW
Washington, DC 20240
The Honorable Sally Jewell
Secretary
U.S. Department of the Interior
1849 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20250
Dear Secretary Vilsack and Secretary Jewell,
I’m writing to request your immediate assistance regarding the ongoing New World screwworm infestation in Florida, the first local infestation in the United States in more than 30 years.
This week, the presence of screwworm was detected on a stray dog in Homestead, Florida, marking the first confirmed case on the mainland. If we don’t move aggressively to halt the spread of this dangerous pest, the result could be catastrophic for Florida’s wildlife and livestock industry.
More than 130 endangered Key deer have already fallen victim to the screwworm. We cannot allow the white-tailed deer population, or the endangered Florida panther, or Florida’s nearly $1 billion beef industry to collapse too.
I understand the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service are coordinating with the state on monitoring activities and treatment efforts, including the release of at least 80 million sterile flies in the Keys since the outbreak began. These response actions should be immediately implemented on the mainland and expanded to reflect the additional threats posed by the location of the first detection.
Homestead, Florida, is bordered by agricultural and environmentally sensitive landscapes like Everglades National Park that make detection and eradication even more difficult. That’s why I strongly encourage you to provide the necessary funding to increase monitoring of wildlife in these areas and begin contingency planning for containing this threat.
Further, I urge you to provide agency resources to increase sterile fly releases in appropriate areas, since this remains the most effective method of controlling the spread of screwworm. In your response to this letter, please explain any additional unmet funding needs that are necessary to quickly and thoroughly contain and eliminate the screwworm infestation in Florida.
Thank you for your attention to this serious and urgent matter.
Sincerely,
A .pdf copy of Nelson’s letter is available here.
