Bill Nelson

We need positive train controls installed and activated as soon as possible.

Tragically, the reason we are here for this hearing is that our rail safety efforts have not worked.

We are facing cuts. I think we are going to have to reverse that course.

If we want to prevent these tragic accidents... we need to get PTC in place as quickly as possible.

If the Senator will further yield, and I will conclude with this. The American people need to understand there is so much agreement behind the closed doors on the Intelligence Committee, as they are invested with the oversight of what is…

Has the Senator come to the conclusion that with regard to the holding of that data and the many cases that are classified, that that data has protected this country from terrorists by virtue of just the example he gave of terrorist…

Has the Senator heard many times from the press: Well, nobody has come forward and shown us one case in which the holding of these telephone business bulk records has paid off. Has the Senator heard that statement by the press?

We must close the homework gap to address those low-income students who cannot do their homework because they don't have a broadband connection.

Access to broadband is absolutely necessary.

It is critical that we not forget the importance of the FCC's Lifeline program to keeping that universal service goal.

Without this relatively small subsidy, many of those families would go without and find themselves cutoff from any kind of communication.

Any modernization of Lifeline should keep in mind the need for the balance between the voice and the broadband.

I commend the FCC for beginning this inquiry.

The concept of universal service is the foundation of our Nation's communications policies.

Street crime in Tampa, FL dropped--burglaries, auto thefts, muggings dropped--because the criminals suddenly realized: get a laptop, go in and create a false return, and get a refund.

We ought to take care of this by passing legislation.

I am delighted to hear you say you will come to Miami and Orlando, so you can see how practically speaking it was implemented.

If we make a mistake, it could be fatal, and we need strong leadership.

I look forward to hearing how you would approach these issues, and how your experience at the Coast Guard has prepared you to lead this 50,000 member workforce and protect our transportation networks.

Syria is not going to be able to contain ISIS until at least there is a plan for the exit of President Assad.

You are to be congratulated on that.

Sir, we are witnessing a buildup of forces in Syria by Russia.

The only solution is the solution of a political exit for Assad so that we can go after these extremist elements.

If Assad exited tomorrow, what would be the likely strategy that we would use going forward?

Ramadi should be seen as a wake up call that the Abadi government needs to do more to include the Sunnis.