# Bill Nelson

Clarence William Nelson II (born 29 September 1942) is an American politician and attorney serving as the administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). He previously served as a United States Senator from Florida from 2001 to 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served in the Florida House of Representatives from 1972 to 1978 and in the United States House of Representatives from 1979 to 1991.

## Quotes

* I have hunted all my life...but an AR-15 is not for hunting. It’s for killing.
** After the February 14, 2018 Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, on February 15, 2018 on the floor of the United States Senate (Fisher, Marc (February 15, 2018). "The AR-15: ‘America’s rifle’ or illegitimate killing machine?". The Washington Post. Retrieved on September 6, 2018. ; Jansen, Bart (February 15, 2018). "Florida shooting suspect bought gun legally, authorities say". USA Today. Retrieved on August 22, 2018. ; "Florida Senators on Parkland School Shooting". C-SPAN. February 15, 2018. Retrieved on August 22, 2018. ; "FL senator: 'AR-15 is not for hunting, it’s for killing'". BBC. February 15, 2018. Retrieved on August 22, 2018. ) and in an interview on Fox News' Fox & Friends (Breuninger, Kevin (February 15, 2018). "AR-15s are not the problem, manufacturers say after rifle-wielding teenage gunman kills 17 people at Florida school". CNBC. Retrieved on August 22, 2018. ) and the next day in an appearance in Parkland ("VERBATIM: 'An AR-15 is not for hunting, it's for killing'". Reuters. February 16, 2018. Retrieved on August 22, 2018. ; "'An AR-15 Is for Killing': Sen. Nelson Hopes FL Shooting Is the 'Turning Point' on Gun Control". Fox News. February 16, 2018. Retrieved on August 22, 2018. ).
* We are showing that planetary defense is a global endeavor, and it is very possible to save our planet.
** Congratulatory message to NASA teams, after the successful impact of the DART spacecraft into the moonlet Dimorphos of the asteroid Didymos. · "DART's Impact with Asteroid Dimorphos" Official NASA Broadcast, 1h 25m (26 September 2022)
* Today for the first time in more than a half century, the US has returned to the moon. Today, for the first time in the history of humanity, a commercial company — an American company — launched and led the voyage up there. And today is a day that shows the power and promise of NASA's commercial partnerships. Congratulations to everyone involved in this great and daring quest at Intuitive Machines, SpaceX and right here at NASA. What a triumph! Odysseus has taken the moon. This feat is a giant leap forward for all of humanity.
** Remarks after confirmation of the successful landing of Odysseus on the southern polar region of the Moon, after about two hours of desperate last minute revisions of software and procedures because of major sensor failures. (22 February 2024) · Full NASA coverage of landing at YouTube (with his remarks at 1:44:07)

## External links

* Profile page at NASA
* Biographical Directory of the US Congress
* PDF: "Bill Nelson (Senator), Payload Specialist; NASA astronaut biography" (July 2008)
* Appearances on C-SPAN
* Profile at Curlie