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.

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

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

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...

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

And your chart will be entered into the record.

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.

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

We've had La Nina, the cold Pacific waters. Your bulletin, dated just a week or so ago, says, that El Nino is arriving.

With the amount that they're having to pay for homeowners insurance now if you're in a coastal area, you would think that people would be asking about those things when they buy a house.

Does Florida have a public model today?