Protecting Volunteer Firefighters and Emergency Responders Act

Floor Speech

Mr. NELSON. Mr. President, my colleague from Florida knows the
personal affection I have for him, and I enjoy so much his friendship
and working with him on issues regarding Florida.

I think this is an example of how two Senators from the same State
can come to different conclusions, apparently not about this
legislation--advancing it, because this Senator will in fact vote to
move this legislation forward--but on the ultimate judgment that we
have to make.

Senator Rubio has correctly stated, in my opinion, that Iran's is a
regime that is bent on aggression, that they cannot be trusted, that
Israel is threatened, and that we are basically the backstop protector
of Israel. All of those things are very true.

But the question is what is in the interest of the national security
of the United States--which, in most cases, always folds into what is
in the interest of the national security of Israel as well--and the
Senator and I come to different conclusions.

First of all, we don't know the final details. But we do know a
framework that was put out, and if that framework is fleshed out, as is
suggested, with the details by June 30, then the simple bottom line for
this Senator is if it prevents Iran from building a nuclear weapon over
at least a 10-year period, with the sufficient safeguards, intrusions,
inspections--unannounced, as well--that prevent them from having a
nuclear weapon without our getting, conservatively, a year's advanced
notice and we know that is a guarantee for a 10-year period--if not 15
and 20 years--is that in the interest of the United States? And this
Senator has concluded that yes, it is.

I hope the agreement comes out as suggested by the framework. I will
be looking forward to examining that. And, as a result of our passing
this legislation today, we will have a guarantee that we will vote on
parts with regard to the lifting of sanctions, and we will be able to
weigh in on the specifics.

It is interesting how two Senators from the same State can come out
with such different conclusions having shared a lot of the similar
information, as this Senator has served on the Intelligence Committee
for 6 years and Senator Rubio is on the Intelligence Committee as well.

It will be an interesting debate as we get into the details.

I yield the floor.

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