Bill Nelson: “Expansion of alternative fuel programs is an urgent national priority. If we are concerned about importing 60 percent of…”

“Expansion of alternative fuel programs is an urgent national priority. If we are concerned about importing 60 percent of our daily oil consumption from foreign lands, we best develop a substitute, and ethanol works in our existing gasoline engines. In conclusion, frankly I believe the administration could have done better. They could have started discussions with the industry sooner by allowing all parties to explore the available options. I believe more time could have led to further agreements and compromise, but I must look not to the interests of one very important industry in my State but also to the greater interests of Florida and especially the Nation as a whole. I will vote for CAFTA today. It is important to my State and it is important to the Nation. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator's time has expired. Who yields time? The Senator from North Dakota.”