Bill Nelson

The private sector cannot easily compete with the public sector in providing reinsurance.

So, it's fair to say that the reinsurance industry would not support the bills that we've introduced with regard to the Federal Government giving a loan guarantee to the States for their hurricane catastrophe funds.

And your chart will be entered into the record.

Senator Martinez and I have introduced several bills this year because we want a pro-active approach to addressing these natural catastrophe concerns.

Hurricane Katrina caused at least ten oil spills, dumping in total more than 7.4 million gallons into the Gulf Coast region's waterways.

One of the problems that we have here in the Senate is the fact that Senators from States that are not coastal States tend to think that hurricanes are not their problem.

I think we're going to be able to get that satellite up, because now the Department of Defense has a need for another instrument...

The insurance industry is split on this issue, on what we're talking about here.

Is NOAA working with HUD and other agencies to tie the science and the coastal management and the community preparations together?

Inexperience? What do you mean? Well, we do it with volunteers, and instead of driving two nails they would drive ten nails.

There is no civilization there, except mangroves. But, that's right, across that moist Everglades, it kept up its speed, and by the time it got to Miami and Fort Lauderdale, it did some real damage.

Evacuation is absolutely critical, particularly to lessen and mitigate any impact on people and any possibility of human deaths.

Hurricanes are amongst the most destructive natural phenomena on earth.

All of your written statements will be entered into the record, so that we have that basis of information.

Wilma actually hit an unurbanized part of the State. The counterclockwise winds hit the coast actually down there in the Ten Thousand Islands.

So, you're not worried about the column of air from the max altitude of the C-130 and the P-3?

I'll never forget, in the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew, in 1992, in which all of the Habitat for Humanity homes survived, when so many of those other subdivisions were just blown away.

What are you going to do if the G4 is down for maintenance or because of an accident?

Can you share with us why this might be?

I think there is a clear need for advanced and increased research in many areas.

More hurricanes have ripped through my home state of Florida than any other state in the Nation.

And you might discuss whether or not you think we're making progress on reducing hurricane impacts.

We supported legislation introduced by Senator Bill Nelson of Florida aimed at curbing the use of deceptive advertising practices.

I'm grateful for your hospitality, Mr. Chairman, thank you. Your generosity. You're very kind.

We limit the amount of advertising, but we don't regulate the content. Is it time to revisit this issue?