RESOLUTION #1

BE BETTER PREPARED FOR HURRICANES AND NATURAL DISASTERS

After the painful lessons of hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma, we must look back and determine how to better respond to these disasters and implement policies to prevent similar disastrous results. 

These disasters exposed fundamental flaws in the plan and communication structure to coordinate response efforts of local, state, and federal government, as well as non-profit relief organizations.  For example, we must establish procedures to ensure that the safety and well-being of seniors in adult communities is not forgotten.  Now that we know our current emergency management infrastructure is not capable of responding to multiple disasters, or those the scope of Katrina, Rita and Wilma, we must streamline and reform our disaster preparedness and response.

RESOLUTION #2

DEVELOP A REAL HOMELAND SECURITY PLAN

Nine million shipping containers bring freight into United States sea and river ports every year.  Currently, the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection analyzes cargo and other shipping information to target specific freight for closer examination, resulting in an average of only 1 in 20 shipments undergoing inspection, according to the New York Times. 

South Florida is home to Port Everglades and the Port of Miami, three international airports, and has miles and miles of coastline.  In order to secure our borders and points of entry, we must correct the Department of Homeland Security's inability to adequately prevent and respond to terrorist attacks.  In 2006, we must create a comprehensive list of critical infrastructure to be protected and a plan to secure it, we must assist airports in acquiring critical new explosive detection equipment, and we must streamline and strengthen information sharing with local law enforcement.

RESOLUTION #3

WE MUST IMPROVE AMERICA'S GLOBAL REPUTATION

Widespread discontent with the United States has soared since the invasion of Iraq and the Administration's refusal to participate in worldwide environmental protocols.  According to the Pew Research Center, favorability ratings for the United States have fallen in 19 of the 27 countries surveyed since 2000.  In response to this widespread plunge in global public opinion, the Administration instituted an office of Public Diplomacy to repair our nation's image.  The office has yet to do more than attract criticism and lampoons.  

The international community also resents the United States' dissention from the Kyoto Protocol, an international environmental agreement that requires nations to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and has been signed by many of our key Western allies.

Their concern is understandable.  The United States creates a fifth of the world's greenhouse emissions, so refusing to abide by the protocol's standards will severely undercut its success.  Choosing not to cooperate also gives American companies an unfair advantage against global competitors, as they will be free of the protocol's additional compliance costs.

Our current policies fail to value international relationships.  We must incorporate international concerns into initiative planning if we are to continue to count on the support of global coalitions.

RESOLUTION #4

WE MUST RESTORE FAITH AND TRUST IN GOVERNMENT

A series of top White House personnel and Congressional leaders have been indicted or investigated for serious national security breeches and money laundering scams.  With this in mind, it's hardly surprising that a recent CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll reported that 49%of respondents said most members of Congress are corrupt. 

There has also been an abrupt reversal in Congressional oversight during this Administration that must be addressed.  During the Clinton White House investigations, Congress issued over 1000 subpoenas and deposed over 141 officials.   Meanwhile, during the current Administration, Democrats' requests to hold four separate hearings on possible faulty pre-Iraq War intelligence and the CIA leak scandal were denied in the Government Reform Committee.  Additionally, four resolutions of inquiry-the means of last resort to force a congressional investigation-were rejected in the Intelligence, Judiciary, Armed Services, and International Relations committees.

The stakes could not be higher.  Evenhanded oversight is not unpatriotic-- it's Congress' constitutional obligation.  We must reestablish honest government and the people's trust. 

RESOLUTION #5

WE MUST ESTSABLISH CLEAR, SECURE HEALTH CARE PROGRAMS

Seniors across the country are being asked to sort through a complicated and confusing Medicare Prescription Drug Bill.  Medicare Part D fails to guarantee beneficiaries a comprehensive prescription drug benefit.  Worse, they will have to repeat the review process annually as plans change again, and again.  I recently held a series of town hall meetings to help explain this new program to South Floridians, and hundreds of confused people took the time to come out.   Many participants are panicked by the new plan and cannot get through to the call-in help system because it is inundated with calls.  Some pharmacies have been forced to give customers a three-day supply of their medications until they can straighten out the new insurance guidelines. 

This new plan shamelessly caters to large pharmaceutical companies at the expense of the American people, and the existing campaigns to explain the program to our seniors are clearly inadequate.   We need to jumpstart a public education campaign before people make serious mistakes or are needlessly charged for not signing up on time.

I'm pleased to share these resolutions with you, and I look forward to working toward making them a reality by 2007.  Your questions, thoughts, and concerns are important to me. Please do not hesitate to let me know of any problems or issues you consider significant.  Feel free to contact my offices in Broward at 954-437-3936, in Miami-Dade at 305-936-5724, or in Washington, D.C. at 202-225-7931.