Requesting an Increase of U.S. Security Assistance to
Israel
On March 16, Senator Nelson
wrote to President Obama urging him to negotiate a robust new Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) which increases U.S. security assistance to Israel. Senator
Nelson underscored the importance of this assistance in helping Israel maintain
its qualitative military edge (QME) over neighboring militaries and deter and
defend against regional threats.
Requesting Full Funding for Israel’s Iron Dome and
Other Defense Programs
On March 18, Senator Nelson
wrote to Chairman Cochran and Ranking Member Durbin of the Senate
Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, requesting full funding for U.S.-
Israeli cooperative defense programs. These programs help Israel develop,
finance, and deploy the Iron Dome, Arrow 2, Arrow 3, and David’s Sling weapons
systems—used to protect Israel from Hamas rocket fire and longer-range threats.
Requesting Funding for the International Atomic Energy
Agency (IAEA)
On March 18, Senator Nelson
wrote to Chairman Lindsey Graham and Ranking Member Patrick Leahy of the Senate
Appropriations Subcommittee for State and Foreign Operations, requesting
increased funding for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which is
responsible for monitoring Iran’s compliance with the Joint Comprehensive Plan
of Action, or nuclear agreement. Senator Nelson requested an additional $10.6
million for the U.S. voluntary contribution to the IAEA to ensure it has the
funding necessary to do the job.
Requesting Funding for the Veterans’ Crisis Phone Line
On March 16, Senator Nelson
wrote to Chairman Kirk and Ranking Member Tester of the Senate Appropriations
Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies,
requesting that the Veterans’ Crisis Line be fully funded. The Veterans
Crisis Line serves veterans in times when they are most in need. Senator Nelson
requested the necessary funding to ensure that the line be fully operational.
Requesting Funding for Schools Serving Military
Families
On March 18, Senator Nelson
wrote to Chairman Cochran and Ranking Member Durbin of the Senate
Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, requesting continued support for the
Department of Defense (DOD) Impact Aid program. Impact Aid provides
financial assistant to school districts serving a high number of military
families, including districts serving a high percentage of disabled military
dependents.
Restoring the Natural Flow of Water in Collier County
On April 4, Senator Nelson
wrote to Army Corps Assistant Secretary Jo-Ellen Darcy urging expedited review
and approval of a Limited Reevaluation Report (LRR) for the Picayune Strand
Restoration Project. The LRR includes a revised cost estimate and authorization
to construct a new feature to benefit manatees. Authorized in 2007, the
Picayune Strand Restoration project is scheduled to be completed by 2020. The
goal of the project is to restore the natural flow of water across 93 square
miles in Collier County. This will provide more than 55,000 acres of habitat
for several endangered species, such as the Florida Panther, while maintaining
flood protection for adjacent areas. Without this LRR to authorize increased
funding, the Army Corps will not be able to achieve the project’s full
environmental benefits.
Supporting the Everglades Headwaters
On March 24, Senator Nelson
wrote to the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture in
support of additional funding for the Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife
Refuge and Conservation Area. Created in 2012, the Headwaters refuge set a goal
of conserving 150,000 acres of land through conservation easements and
acquisition. Conserving land provides flood protection, improves water quality,
and preserves natural habitat for wildlife. In February, more than 5,300 acres
were added to the Headwaters refuge.
Urging Strong Safety Standards for Offshore Drilling
On March 18, Senator Nelson
wrote to Shaun Donovan, Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB),
to emphasize the importance of strong safety standards for offshore drilling.
The letter also notes the economic damage that spills like Deepwater Horizon
cause for coastal communities. OMB is reviewing the Interior Department’s well
control rule, which would update these standards. The proposal would require
higher standards and oversight of the maintenance and repair of blowout
preventers and other equipment. A blowout preventer is a valve (or similar
mechanism) used to control and seal oil and gas wells. The blowout preventer’s
shear ram—a device with two blades that seals off a well in an emergency—is
blamed for failing to fully close off the well that sent oil and gas rushing to
the surface in the 2010 Deepwater Horizon spill.
Increasing Access to Cancer Care
On March 22, Senators Nelson
and Rubio sent a letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
requesting that the agency work with Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center
(Sylvester) at the University of Miami to increase their number of inpatient
beds. Sylvester is currently capped at 40 inpatient beds, which does not meet
the demand from patients seeking treatment. Florida has the second
highest number of cancer cases in the United States. The number is
expected to rise as the population ages.
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