Sen. Bill Nelson’s statement on the health-care vote: During these many months of debate over health-care reform, my goal has been to pass legislation to make coverage affordable and available to everyone. Regardless of where we stand on specifics, I think most can agree the system is broken and needs to be fixed. While the Senate bill I voted for isn't perfect, it has many good elements. It will prevent insurers from dropping the sick and stop them from denying coverage for pre-existing conditions.  It also will reduce the deficit.  And it includes one of my amendments to protect 800,000 seniors in Medicare HMOs all over Florida. Congress still has to merge this bill with the House version.  And I’ve told negotiators I want them to close the "donut hole" gap in Medicare prescription drug coverage.

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Feds: help for drywall-tainted homes

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. - A U.S. senator says he’s grateful the federal government has decided it can help at least some of the homeowners who’ve been hard hit because of tainted drywall. U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson previously had asked U.S. Housing and Urban Development ( HUD ) Secretary Shaun Donovan to let communities and homeowners know whether federal block grant monies could be used to help remediate homes with problem drywall. The answer that came: temporary relief is available to make home repairs affordable for at-risk borrowers.

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Senators OK import ban on deadly snakes


U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson brought his Senate colleague Barbara Boxer, to the visit the Everglades two years ago. More recently she headed a panel that passed Nelson’s legislation aimed at curbing invasive species in the ‘Glades.

Photo: Joe Raedle/ Getty Images

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson brought his Senate colleague Barbara Boxer, above, to the visit the Everglades two years ago. More recently she headed a panel that passed Nelson’s legislation aimed at curbing invasive species in the ‘Glades.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -  A key Senate panel has approved Sen. Bill Nelson’s bill to ban nine giant constrictor snakes, sending a strong signal that more may be done to safeguard U.S. wildlife and natural resources. The measure would make it illegal for people to import or engage in the interstate trade of nine dangerous snakes, including Burmese pythons, anacondas and the boa constrictor.

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Money for rail coming to Florida

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson’s office announced that congressional budget negotiators agreed to spend $40 million to help jumpstart a rail system that will serve commuters in Central Florida.  And there’s a smaller amount for planning for light rail in Tampa, $1.7 million; and, $4 million for expansion of Metrorail in Miami.

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Amendment aimed at drugmakers’ deal

WASHINGTON, D.C. - A deal in which drugmakers promised to pay $80 billion over 10 years toward health care reform will only cost the industry about one-fourth of that amount, a Wall Street firm’s recent insider report says.  That’s why U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson has introduced an amendment to the Senate health care bill that would break the $80 billion deal the pharmaceutical industry worked out with the White House and Senate leaders.  The amendment would force the drug industry to give up extra profits worth about $106 billion.

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Nelson reacts to new report on future of America's space program

Following the publication of a new report on the future of NASA, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson says President Obama has assured him the space program will gets what it needs.

Nelson: Use stimulus $ to save space jobs

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The only serving U.S. senator to have flown in space today called on President Obama to use $3 billion of unspent stimulus money to help prevent the continued shrinking of America’s space program. Florida Democrat Bill Nelson delivered an impassioned speech on the Senate floor – coming just days before a special commission reviewing NASA and the nation’s space program is expected to deliver its final report to Obama.

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USAToday op-ed

Nelson: Don't penalize seniors

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The debate over Medicare Advantage misses a key point. It's not so much the extras, such as gym memberships, vision and dental care, that drew more than 10 million seniors to the plans. It's the affordable deductibles, co-pays and other such out-of-pocket expenses.

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Batista and Levinson missing abroad, senator aids families

In Miami, Sen. Bill Nelson listens to plea from Lourdes Batista for help.

 

Christine Levinson speaks from a podium at a press conference on a resolution introduced by U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson.
Staff Photos

Lourdes Batista, above, and Christine Levinson, right, both had their husbands go missing in foreign lands.  While the circumstances of their spouses' disappearances are different, they are both getting help from U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson.
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