U.S.
Senator Bill Nelson - Update
Nov 8, 2011
Tallahassee, FL (Posted Nov 9, 2011 04:55 am)
Fannie and Freddie Executive Compensation
Senator Nelson cosigned a bipartisan letter to the Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner objecting to the recent news that nearly $13 million in bonus pay was approved for 10 executives at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
The letter urges FHFA, which oversees Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, to make changes to the executive compensation policy to more accurately reflect the mission of the agency.
Secretary Geithner was included in the letter due to the role the Treasury Department plays in overseeing taxpayer dollars that were used to bail out Fannie and Freddie. A total of 60 senators signed the letter.
For
more information
Lynn Bannister: Director of Outreach
111 North Adams St
Tallahassee, FL 32301
850-942-8415 / 850-942-8450 (fax)
billnelson.senate.gov
Senate Passes Balanced NASA Funding Bill
The Senate passed a "minibus" bill last week that combined the appropriations for the Commerce-Justice-Science, Transportation-Housing and Urban Development, and Agriculture bills into a single bill. The bill includes $17.9 billion in funding for NASA, $1.1 billion more than provided for NASA in the House bill passed this summer.
Burn Pit Registry
Senator Nelson is an original cosponsor of S. 1793, a bill that would require the Department of Veterans Affairs to create a national registry of veterans and service members who may have been exposed to toxic burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan. Additionally, the bill mandates a public information campaign to inform individuals about the registry, and requires periodic updates to members of the registry on any significant health developments associated with burn pit exposure.
Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia
The Senate Commerce Committee favorably voted S. 1701, the Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act, out of committee. Senator Nelson is an original cosponsor of the bill, which would reauthorize and expand a 1998 law that established an interagency task force on hypoxia and harmful algal blooms.
Oversight of Assisted Living Facilities
Last Wednesday, Senator Nelson chaired a Senate Special Committee on Aging hearing entitled "Ensuring Quality and Oversight in Assisted Living." In May, the Miami Herald published an investigative series chronicling the abuses in a number of Florida assisted living facilities.
Given the increasing use of assisting living facilities as a means of delivering health care to older Americans and others, it's imperative these facilities provide high-quality care and protect consumers' interests. The Aging Committee hearing brought together a variety of stakeholders to discuss the role of federal and state governments in monitoring these facilities. In the next few months, the Aging Committee will be looking at ways to improve the oversight of assisted living.
