Clarence William "Bill" Nelson - Genealogy Genealogy Join the world's largest family tree Gender Share your family tree and photos with the people you know and love Build your family tree online Share photos and videos Orlando, Orange County, Florida, United States Birthdate: Miami, Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States Immediate Family: Husband of <private> Nelson (Cavert) Father of <private> Nelson and <private> Nelson Occupation: Sep 29 1942 Possible relatives: ...son, Charles W Nelson, Clarence William Nelson, Charles W Nelson, Nan E Nelson, Ellen N Nelson, Bill C Nelson, and names of 2 more relati ... Residences: Clarence William Nelson, Nannie Merle Wife: Bill Nelson, Nan Ellen Nelson Residence: Michael E Nelson, Billy Wayne Nelson, Jr, Janice Creech Nelson, Carrie Nelson Radelmiller Residence: Feb 19 1972 - Brevard, Florida, USA Wife: Clarence William "Bill" Nelson (born September 29, 1942) is the senior United States Senator from the state of Florida and a member of the Democratic Party.

He is a former United States Representative and former Treasurer and Insurance Commissioner of Florida. In 1986, he became the second sitting member of the United States Congress to fly in space. In 1972, Nelson was elected to the Florida House of Representatives. He was re-elected in 1974 and 1976. Nelson was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1978. He served in the U.S. House from 1979 to 1991. In January 1986, he flew as a Payload Specialist on the Space Shuttle Columbia. After a failed gubernatorial race in 1990, he successfully ran for the office of Treasurer and Insurance Commissioner of Florida in 1994 and served for six years. In 2000, Nelson ran for U.S. Senate seat vacated by retiring Republican Senator Connie Mack. In the Senate he is generally considered a social moderate and economic liberal. He was re-elected in 2006 with 60 percent of the vote and is seeking re-election in 2012.

Personal life Nelson was born in Miami, the only child of Nannie Merle (née Nelson) and Clarence William Nelson. He spent his youth in Melbourne, Florida, where he attended Melbourne High School. Nelson attended the University of Florida before transferring to Yale University. He subsequently received a law degree from the University of Virginia. In 1965, he joined the U.S. Army Reserve; he served on active duty from 1968 to 1970, attaining the rank of captain, and he remained in the Army until 1971. Nelson was admitted to the Florida bar in 1968, and began practicing law in Melbourne in 1970. In 1971, he worked as legislative assistant to Governor Reubin Askew. In 1972, Nelson married Grace Cavert. The couple has two adult children: Bill Nelson, Jr., and Nan Ellen Nelson. He was baptized as a Baptist, and grew up attending Baptist and Episcopal churches. In 2005, he joined the First Presbyterian Church in Orlando.

Spaceflight In 1986, Nelson became the second sitting member of Congress (and the first member of the House) to travel into space. He went through NASA training with Senator Jake Garn of Utah. He was a Payload Specialist on Space Shuttle Columbia's STS-61-C mission from January 12 to 18, 1986. Columbia landed at Edwards AFB at 5:59 a.m. PST, on January 18. Mission elapsed time was 6 days, 2 hours, 3 minutes, 51 seconds. It was the last successful Space Shuttle flight before the Challenger accident, as the disaster occurred only 10 days after Columbia's return. Political career Florida legislature In 1972, Nelson was elected to the Florida House of Representatives. He won re-election in 1974 and 1976. U.S. House of Representatives Nelson was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1978. He served in the U.S. House from 1979 to 1991. Gubernatorial campaign In 1990, Nelson ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for Governor of Florida.

He lost to former U.S. Senator Lawton Chiles, who went on to win the general election. During the primary campaign, Nelson tried to make an issue out of Chiles' health and age, a strategy that backfired on him in a state with a large population of retirees and senior citizens. Treasurer and Insurance Commissioner In 1994 Nelson announced his intention to seek the office of Treasurer and Insurance Commissioner of Florida. He won the election with 52% of the vote over State Rep. Tim Ireland's 48%. In 1998, he again defeated Ireland for his reelection to the office. In 2000, Nelson resigned his post as Commissioner following his election to the U.S. Senate. U.S. Senate In 2000, Nelson ran as a Democrat for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by retiring Republican Senator Connie Mack. He won the election, defeating U.S. Representative Bill McCollum, who ran as the Republican candidate. Political positions According to ratings by the National Journal, Nelson's votes have been liberal on economic matters, moderate on social issues, and liberal but close to the center on foreign policy.

Central America Free Trade Agreement In 2005, Nelson was one of ten Democrats who voted in favor of the Dominican Republic – Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) on its 55-45 passage in the Senate. Estate tax On several occasions, Nelson has voted to reduce or eliminate the estate tax, notably in June 2006, when he was one of four Democrats voting for a failed (57-41) cloture motion on a bill to eliminate the tax. Withholding funding from the CIA In 2007, Nelson was the lone Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee to vote against an amendment to withhold funds for CIA use of harsh interrogation techniques on terrorism suspects. His vote, combined with those of all Republican members of the committee, killed the measure. Health care In March 2010, Nelson voted for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, which passed and were signed into law by President Obama. A Mason-Dixon Florida poll indicated that the measure was opposed by a majority of those surveyed, and by nearly two-thirds of Florida voters aged 65 or older.

The same poll showed Nelson's negative rating rising to 34%, from 16% at the time of his 2006 re-election. However, a Gallup poll indicated that 79% of Democrats approved of the legislation, with only 40% of all adults opposing the legislation. Space exploration Nelson is seen as a major supporter of the space program. In 2010 he proposed creating as many as “five business enterprise zones as magnets for commercial space ventures.” “The move is expected to attract thousands of jobs to Florida’s 'Space Coast' area around NASA’s Kennedy Space Center and the Cape Canaveral Air Force Base.” In March 2010 Nelson complained that Obama had made a mistake in canceling NASA's Constellation program. On July 7, 2011, Tom Parkinson reported that Nelson had said that Congress “starved” the space program of funding for several years, but suggested that the situation was turning around and called on the Obama Administration to push for NASA funding. Don't Ask Don't Tell On December 18, 2010, Nelson voted in favor of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010.

Congressional term limits Nelson does not support Congressional Term Limits. 2006 re-election campaign Following the 2004 election, in which Republican George W. Bush was re-elected and the Republican party increased its majority in both the House and the Senate, Nelson was seen as vulnerable. He was a Democrat in a state that Bush had won, though by a margin of only five percentage points. Evangelical Christian activist James Dobson declared that such Democrats, including Nelson, would be "in the 'bull's-eye'" if they supported efforts to block Bush's judicial nominees; and Nelson's refusal to support efforts in Congress to intervene in the Terri Schiavo case was seen as "a great political issue" for a Republican opponent to use in mobilizing Christian conservatives against him. Florida governor Jeb Bush, precluded by term limits from seeking re-election in 2006, was suggested as an opponent who might secure Nelson's seat for the Republicans. Bush chose not to run for the seat. Katherine Harris, the former Florida Secretary of State and two-term U.S. representative, defeated three other candidates in the September 5 Republican primary. Nelson was unopposed for the Democratic nomination.

Harris's role in the 2000 presidential election made her a polarizing figure. Many Florida Republicans were eager to reward her for her perceived party loyalty in the Bush-Gore election; many Florida Democrats were eager to vote against her for the same reason. Harris's campaign was beset by difficulties: poor fundraising, a series of gaffes, and a high turnover of staff, including the loss of three campaign managers and of chief advisor Ed Rollins. In February, it was learned that Harris had received $32,000 in illegal campaign contributions from defense contractor Mitchell J. Wade. In April, a National Review editorial urged Harris to withdraw, arguing that she would unquestionably win the primary and lose the general election. In May, when the party found itself unable to recruit a candidate who could defeat Harris in the primary, many Republican activists admitted that the race was already lost. Harris's campaign focused heavily on evangelical Christianity. In an August interview with Florida Baptist Witness, she declared: "[I]f you're not electing Christians then in essence you are going to legislate sin" Nelson, meanwhile, focused on safe issues, portraying himself as a bipartisan centrist problem-solver.

He obtained the endorsement of all 22 of Florida's daily newspapers. Harris failed to secure the endorsement of Jeb Bush, who publicly stated that she could not win; the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which had supported her in her House campaigns, did not endorse her in this race. As the election approached, polls showed Harris trailing Nelson by 26 to 35 points. Nelson transferred about $16.5 million in campaign funds to other Democratic candidates, and won the election with 60.4% of the vote to Harris's 38.2%. 2012 re-election campaign Biden has called Nelson crucial to President Obama's chances for winning Florida in 2012. Several possible 2012 challengers have emerged, but the only one who is widely seen as a real threat is Connie Mack IV (the son of Nelson's direct predecessor in the Senate).

In March 2011, Vice President Joe Biden was reported as having said that if Nelson lost in 2012, “it means President Obama and the Democratic presidential ticket won't win the key battleground state, either....'He's a truly, truly decent guy who has the absolute respect of his colleagues, and I've heard that from both sides of the aisle,' Biden said of his former Senate colleague.” Controversies Fundraising On February 17, 2009, David D.

Kirkpatrick wrote that Nelson was one of three lawmakers who “were returning campaign contributions from donors listed as employees of the PMA Group, a Washington lobbying firm whose founder is under investigation for purportedly funneling money through bogus donors.” During his 2006 Senate campaign, according to the Open Congress website, Nelson “was accused of taking $80,000 in illegal campaign contributions from Riscorp, Inc....The Riscorp scandal involved dozens of Florida state legislators and was among the largest scandals in recent Florida history.” Council on American-Islamic Relations In November 2011, Ahmed Bedier, an activist linked to CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood, donated money to Nelson and co-hosted a fundraiser for him. Nelson's representatives later claimed that he “did not know about Bedier's relationship with CAIR” and that Bedier had exaggerated his closeness to the Senator. In November 2011 Marc Caputo of the Miami Herald wrote that the scandal over Bedier threatened the Jewish vote for Nelson, given that Bedier had called Israel a “terrorist state.” Caputo noted that while “Nelson has gone to great lengths to fashion himself as pro-Israel,” that wasn't enough for some conservative groups.

Committee assignments and Electoral history Nelson Cancer: Florida Senator To Undergo Surgery In Washington Amid Diagnosis - NewsOXY Home Politics Nelson Cancer: Florida Senator To Undergo Surgery In Washington Amid Diagnosis Nelson Cancer: Florida Senator To Undergo Surgery In Washington Amid Diagnosis Like Sen. Bill Nelson’s cancer diagnosis does not affect his plan to run for re-election in 2018. The Florida Democrat surgery is scheduled for Monday at a Washington hospital to undergo prostate surgery , according to OnPolitics. Nelson, 72, who has long taken pride in being fit and healthy, said he had no symptoms and that doctors found the cancer at an early stage during a routine medical exam. Extensive scans showed no signs of the cancer spreading outside the prostate, his staff reported. “I’ve been blessed with good health, which has allowed me the great privilege of public service,” he said, “and I look forward to continuing serving our country and Florida.” Nelson cancer caught early Nelson’s cancer hasn’t interrupted his fitness as he recently showed off by doing 46 pushups in a losing bet over the Stanley Cup. Even so, some had begun to question Bill’s age.

The disease was caught early as part of a routine exam, according to a statement from Ryan Brown, Nelson’s press secretary. The Democrat had no symptoms. Nelson, a lawyer with a low-key demeanor, was elected to the Senate in 2000 and is serving his third six-year term. While serving in the U.S. House of Representatives, he flew into space aboard the space shuttle Columbia in 1986, spending six days orbiting Earth. A prostate cancer exam is an internal examination of the rectum performed by a physician or other healthcare professional. The examination is used for the diagnosis of tumors and prostatic disorders. “Extensive scans showed no signs of the cancer spreading outside the prostate,” Brown said of the examination performed on Bill Nelson. Cancer in the prostate often grows slowly showing no symptoms, which is why the American Cancer Society recommends routine exams. For many men, this disease is far less serious than other medical conditions. Nelson began his career in the Florida House of Representatives, where he served from 1973 to 1979.

Bill then served in the United States House of Representatives from 1979 to 1991 and in January 1986, he became the second sitting member of the United States Congress to fly in space. In 1986, Nelson became the second sitting member of Congress (and the first member of the House) to travel into space. He went through NASA training with Senator Jake Garn of Utah. He was a Payload Specialist on Space Shuttle Columbia’s STS-61-C mission from January 12 to 18, 1986. Columbia landed at Edwards AFB at 5:59 a.m. PST, on January 18. Mission elapsed time was 6 days, 2 hours, 3 minutes, 51 seconds. Nelson was part of the last successful Space Shuttle flight before the Challenger accident, as the disaster occurred only 10 days after Columbia’s return. Bill retired from Congress in 1990 to unsuccessfully run for Governor of Florida. Nelson’s cancer hasn’t interrupted his energy level when it comes to serving this third term in the Senate .

Bill was re-elected in 2006 with 60% of the vote and in 2012 with 55% of the vote. Bill Nelson, Senator • Biography & Facts Bill Nelson Senator Clarence William "Bill" Nelson II (born September 29, 1942) is an American politician and member of the Democratic Party who serves as the senior United States Senator from Florida, in office since 2001. Nelson began his career in the Florida House of Representatives, where he served from 1973 to 1979. He then served in the United States House of Representatives from 1979 to 1991 and in January 1986, Nelson became the second sitting member of the United States Congress to fly in space. He flew as a Payload Specialist on the Space Shuttle Columbia.He retired from Congress in 1990 to unsuccessfully run for Governor of Florida. He then served as Treasurer, Insurance Commissioner and Fire Marshal of Florida from 1995 to 2001. In 2000, Nelson ran for and was elected to the U.S.

Senate seat vacated by retiring Republican Senator Connie Mack III'> Connie Mack III. He was re-elected in 2006 with 60% of the vote and in 2012 with 55% of the vote. In the Senate, he is generally considered a social and economic liberal. Personal facts FL - Florida FL - Florida 1819 (February 24) The Senate by unanimous vote approved the Adams-Onis Treaty , or Florida Purchase treaty, which had been signed by American and Spanish officials on February 22, ceding the remainder of the Spanish province to the United States. 1821 (March 10) Future senator and future president Andrew Jackson became the presidentially-appointed military governor of Florida. Jackson served in that capacity until December 1821. 1845 Florida became the 27th state in the Union. 1845 (December 1) Florida's first two senators, David Levy Yulee of St. Augustine and James D. Westcott, Jr. , of Tallahassee, presented their credentials and took their oaths of office . Senator Yulee was the first Jewish-American to serve in the Senate.

Taking office as David Levy, at the senator’s request, the Florida state legislature officially changed his name to David Levy Yulee in 1846. 1845 (December 2) The senators drew lots to determine their class assignments . Senator Westcott drew Class 2, with a term to expire March 3, 1849. Senator Yulee drew Class 3, with a term to expire March 3, 1851. 1852 (August 27) The Senate voted to end a contested election between David Levy Yulee and Stephen R. Mallory of Jacksonville. When Yulee’s seat came up for reelection in 1851, he lost the balloting to Mallory by two votes. Yulee contested the election. On August 27, 1852, the Senate voted in favor of Mallory. In 1855 Yulee returned to the Senate, and he and Mallory served together until 1861. 1861 Florida became the third state to secede from the Union.

1861 (January 21) Senator David Levy Yulee read a statement of withdrawal to the Senate, indicating that he and fellow Floridian Stephen R. Mallory would withdraw from the Senate to support the Confederacy. On March 14, 1861, the Senate declared Mallory’s seat vacant . Yulee’s term expired on March 4, 1861, so no official Senate action was necessary. 1868 (June 25) Following adoption of a new state constitution and ratification of the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution , Florida was formally readmitted to representation in the Union. 1868 (June 30) The Senate resolved the contested election between William Marvin and Thomas W. Osborn of Pensacola, deciding by a vote of 34 to 6 in favor of Osborn. Osborn and Adonijah S. Welch of Jacksonville, who took his seat on July 2 1868, became the first senators to represent Florida since 1861.

1870 The House Committee on Military Affairs commissioned artist Seth Eastman to paint 17 images of important fortifications in the United States . Eight of the Eastman paintings are displayed in the Senate wing of the U.S. Capitol. Eastman completed the works between 1870 and 1875, including a painting of Florida’s Fort Taylor . 1870 (April 28) The Senate voted to end a contested election between Ossian B. Hart and Abijah Gilbert of St. Augustine. When Gilbert, an abolitionist who had relocated to Florida, presented his credentials to the Senate in March 1869, the Senate seated him without incident. When some members of the Florida legislature objected to the election of Gilbert and presented their own candidate, Ossian B. Hart, the Senate had to decide the outcome. The Senate voted to allow Gilbert to retain his seat. 1877 (February ) The 1876 presidential election between Republican Rutherford B. Hayes and Democrat Samuel J. Tilden hinged on disputed electoral ballots from Florida, Oregon, Louisiana, and South Carolina.

Unable to decide which ballots to count, Congress created an electoral commission to settle the dispute, also known as "The Florida Case." The commission ultimately recommended awarding all the ballots to Hayes. During the summers of 1877 and 1878, well-known portrait painter Cornelia Adèle Fassett set up a temporary studio in the Capitol’s Supreme Court Chamber (The Old Senate Chamber) while the Court was not in session. Her painting, The Florida Case before the Electoral Commission depicts a meeting of the electoral commission in that room. 1892 (February 4) The Senate voted to end a contested election between Robert H. M. Davidson and Wilkinson Call of Jacksonville. The Senate voted to allow Call to retain his seat. 1905 (February 27) Following impeachment by the House of Representatives, and a trial by the Senate sitting as a High Court of Impeachment, Florida judge Charles Swayne was acquitted by the Senate. 1914 (April 30) A marble statue of John Gorrie (1803-1855), sculpted by Charles Adrian Pillars, was officially unveiled at the Capitol, becoming Florida’s first contribution to the National Statuary Hall Collection .

1914 (November 3) Senator Duncan U. Fletcher of Jacksonville won reelection and became Florida's first directly elected senator following the ratification of the Seventeenth Amendment in 1913. 1916 (December 5) Senator Duncan Fletcher became chairman of the Committee on Commerce (today's Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation ), a position he held from 1916 to 1919. 1918 (August 27) A bronze statue of General Edmund Kirby Smith (1824-1893), sculpted by Charles Adrian Pillars, was installed in the Capitol, becoming Florida’s second contribution to the National Statuary Hall Collection . Congress officially accepted the statue and passed a resolution thanking the state of Florida for the gift in 1922. 1933 (March 9) Senator Duncan Fletcher became chairman of the Committee on Banking and Currency (today's Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs ), serving until 1936. During that time, he chaired the committee's investigation of stock exchange and private bank practices .

Based on the investigation's findings, he co-sponsored the Fletcher-Rayburn bill, which became the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. 1936 (April 17) Following impeachment by the House of Representatives, and a trial by the Senate sitting as a High Court of Impeachment, Florida judge Halsted Ritter was convicted by the Senate and removed from office. Following conviction, the Senate voted not to disqualify Ritter from holding future office. 1936 (June 17) Senator Duncan Fletcher died while still in office. Initially appointed to the Senate in 1909, Senator Fletcher was elected to the Senate five times and served for over 27 years. He is Florida's longest serving senator. 1960 (December ) Senator George Smathers of Miami began his six-year service as secretary of the Democratic Conference . Smathers, who served in the Senate from 1951 to 1969, participated in a series of oral history interviews for the Senate Historical Office in 1989. 1970 (April 8) The Senate rejected by a vote of 45 to 51 the Supreme Court nomination of G.

Harrold Carswell , the first and only nominee from Florida. He had been nominated by President Richard M. Nixon to replace Justice Abe Fortas on the nation's highest court . 1971 Senator Lawton M. Chiles Jr. of Lakeland received the Golden Gavel Award for presiding over the Senate for 100 hours in a single session. 1975 (July 24) Senator Richard Stone of Tallahassee received the Golden Gavel Award for presiding over the Senate for 100 hours in a single session. Senator Stone has the distinction of receiving a total of three Golden Gavel Awards during his career. He gained the second award in 1975 and the third in 1976. 1985 (February 18) Paula Hawkins of Winter Park, who became Florida's first woman senator in 1981, read George Washington's 1796 Farewell Address on the floor of the Senate Chamber, a tradition dating to 1862. 1986 (January 12) Representative and future senator Bill Nelson of Melbourne became the second member of Congress to fly into space aboard the space shuttle.

(Jake Garn of Utah was the first in 1985.) Nelson served as a payload specialist aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia and orbited Earth for six days. He was elected to the Senate in 2000. 1987 (January 6) Senator Lawton Chiles became chairman of the Committee on the Budget , serving from 1987 to 1989. 1987 (December 17) Senator Bob Graham of Tallahassee received the Golden Gavel Award for presiding over the Senate for 100 hours in a single session. 1989 (May 26) Former senator Claude D. Pepper of Tallahassee was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom . Senator Pepper entered the Senate in 1936 and served until 1951. He subsequently served in the House of Representatives from 1963 until his death in 1989. 1989 (October 20) Following impeachment by the House of Representatives, and a trial by the Senate sitting as a High Court of Impeachment , Florida judge Alcee Hastings was convicted by the Senate and removed from office.

He was not disqualified from holding future office, however, and in 1992 was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. 1993 (January 7) Senator Bob Graham was named chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee . Senator Graham served in this leadership position until 1995. 1994 (December 2) Senator Connie Mack of Cape Coral was elected Republican Conference secretary for the 104th Congress. Senator Mack served in this leadership position until 1997. 1996 (December 3) Senator Connie Mack was elected Republican Conference chairman . He served in this leadership position until 2001. 2000 (September 7) The United States Postal Service introduced a 33-cent stamp featuring former Florida senator Claude D. Pepper as part of its "Great Americans" series. 2001 (January 3) Bob Graham became chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence . He held this position in the evenly divided 107th Congress until January 25, 2001, after Vice President Richard Cheney had been sworn in giving Republicans the tie-breaking vote and thus control of Senate.

On June 6, 2001, Graham once again became chairman of the committee after Senator James Jeffords of Vermont switched parties to become an Independent and decided to caucus with the Democrats. Graham chaired the committee until January 14, 2003. 2001 (January 23) The Senate confirmed the nomination of future senator Melquiades Martinez as secretary of housing and urban development. Nominated by President George W. Bush, Martinez served in the position for two years. 2005 (January 3) Melquiades Martinez of Orlando began his Senate service, becoming the fifth Hispanic American to serve in the Senate . 2006 (March 16) Senator Melquiades Martinez received the Golden Gavel Award for presiding over the Senate for 100 hours in a single session. 2013 Bill Nelson News | Quotes | Wiki - UPI.com Bill Nelson News Next Wiki Clarence William "Bill" Nelson (born September 29, 1942) is the senior United States Senator from the state of Florida. A member of the Democratic Party, he is a former U.S. Representative and former Treasurer and Insurance Commissioner of Florida.

He is a leader in air and space policy, and in 1986, he became the second sitting member of the United States Congress to fly in space. Born in Miami, Nelson attended the University of Florida before transferring to Yale University. He went on to receive his law degree from the University of Virginia. In 1965, he joined the U.S. Army Reserve; he served on active duty from 1968 to 1970, attaining the rank of captain, and left the following year. Nelson was admitted to the Florida bar in 1968, and began practicing law in Melbourne in 1970. In 1971, he worked as legislative assistant to Governor Reubin Askew. In 1972, Nelson was elected to the Florida House of Representatives. He won re-election in 1974 and 1976. Nelson was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1978. He served in the U.S. House from 1979 to 1991. In January 1986, he flew as a Payload Specialist on the Space Shuttle Columbia.

After a failed gubernatorial race in 1990, he successfully ran for the office of Treasurer and Insurance Commissioner of Florida in 1994 and served for six years. In 2000, Nelson ran as a Democrat for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by retiring Republican Senator Connie Mack. In the Senate he is generally considered a social moderate and economic liberal. He was re-elected in 2006 with 60 percent of the vote. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License .

It uses material from the Wikipedia article " Bill Nelson ." Quotes Bill Nelson Bill Nelson Chair of the Senate Aging Committee In office January 3, 2013 – January 3, 2015 Preceded by January 3, 1995 – January 3, 2001 Governor from Florida ‘s 11th district In office January 3, 1983 – January 3, 1991 Preceded by from Florida ‘s 9th district In office January 3, 1979 – January 3, 1983 Preceded by November 7, 1972 – November 7, 1978 Preceded by STS-61-C Mission insignia Clarence William “Bill” Nelson II (born September 29, 1942) [1] is an American politician and a member of the Democratic Party who serves as the senior United States Senator from Florida , in office since 2001. Nelson began his career in the Florida House of Representatives , where he served from 1973 to 1979.

He then served in the United States House of Representatives from 1979 to 1991. In January 1986, Nelson became the second sitting member of the United States Congress to fly in space. He flew as a Payload Specialist on the Space Shuttle Columbia . He retired from Congress in 1990 to run for Governor of Florida but was unsuccessful. He was appointed as Treasurer, Insurance Commissioner and Fire Marshal of Florida , serving from 1995 to 2001. In 2000 , Nelson ran for and was elected to the U.S. Senate seat vacated by retiring Republican Senator Connie Mack III . He was re-elected in 2006 with 60% of the vote [2] and in 2012 with 55% of the vote. In the Senate, he is generally considered a moderate Democrat . [3] [4] [5] [6] Contents 10 External links Early and personal life Nelson was born September 29, 1942, in Miami , Florida, the only child of Nannie Merle (née Nelson) and Clarence William Nelson.

[7] [8] His ancestry includes Scottish , Irish , English , and Danish . [9] [10] His father died of a heart attack when Nelson was 14 and his mother of Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS) when he was 24. [11] Nelson grew up in Melbourne, Florida , where he attended Melbourne High School . [12] He attended Baptist and Episcopal churches but later was baptized through immersion in a Baptist church. He served as President of Kiwanis-sponsored Key Club International in 1959–60. [13] In 2005, he joined the First Presbyterian Church in Orlando. [14] Nelson attended the University of Florida , where he was a member of Florida Blue Key , and the Beta Theta Pi social fraternity. He transferred to Yale University , where he was a member of the Book and Snake secret society. [15] He received a law degree from the University of Virginia . [16] In 1965, he joined the U.S. Army Reserve during the Vietnam War.

He served on active duty from 1968 to 1970, attaining the rank of captain , and he remained in the Army until 1971. Nelson was admitted to the Florida bar in 1968, and began practicing law in Melbourne in 1970. In 1971, he worked as legislative assistant to Governor Reubin Askew . [16] In 1972, Nelson married Grace Cavert. The couple have two adult children: Charles William “Bill Jr.” Nelson, [17] and Nan Ellen Nelson. [12] [18] Spaceflight In 1986, Nelson became the second sitting member of Congress (and the first member of the House) to travel into space. He went through NASA training with Senator Jake Garn of Utah. He was a Payload Specialist on Space Shuttle Columbia ‘s STS-61-C mission from January 12 to 18, 1986. Columbia landed at Edwards AFB at 5:59 a.m. PST, on January 18.

Mission elapsed time was 6 days, 2 hours, 3 minutes, 51 seconds. It was the last successful Space Shuttle flight before the Challenger accident , as the disaster occurred only 10 days after Columbia’s return. Early political career Florida legislature In 1972, Nelson was elected to the Florida House of Representatives from the 47th District, representing much of Brevard County and portions of Orange and Seminole Counties . [19] He won reelection in 1974 and 1976. [20] U.S. House of Representatives Nelson was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1978 in the open 9th District after the five-term Republican incumbent, Louis Frey Jr. , ran for governor rather than reelection. [21] Nelson was reelected to that district, which encompassed all of Brevard and part of Orange County, in 1980. He was redistricted to the 11th District, encompassing all of Brevard and parts of Orange, Indian River , and Osceola Counties , and continued to serve in the U.S. House until 1991.

1990 gubernatorial election In 1990, Nelson ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for Governor of Florida . He lost to former U.S. Senator Lawton Chiles , who went on to win the general election. During the primary campaign, Nelson tried to make an issue out of Chiles’ health and age, a strategy that backfired on him in a state with a large population of retirees and senior citizens. Treasurer, Insurance Commissioner and Fire Marshall In 1994 Nelson announced his intention to seek the office of Treasurer, Insurance Commissioner and Fire Marshal of Florida . He won the election with 52% of the vote over State Rep. Tim Ireland’s 48%. In 1998, he again defeated Ireland for his reelection to the office. In 2000, Nelson announced that he would be running for the United States Senate seat held by retiring Republican Connie Mack III . effective January 3, 2001. [22] Florida’s “ resign-to-run ” law requires an incumbent office holder seeking another elective office to submit an irrevocable resignation from the office they currently hold unless that tenure would end anyway before they would assume the new position if elected.

The candidate may designate the effective date of the resignation to be in the future, but it must be no later than the date that they would assume the new office. This compelled Nelson to submit his resignation as Treasurer, Insurance Commissioner and Fire Marshall early in 2000 when he began to campaign for the U.S. Senate seat. He chose January 3, 2001 as the effective date of his resignation, as that was the date new Senators would be sworn in. [23] United States Senate Elections 2000 election In 2000 , Nelson ran as a Democrat for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by retiring Republican Senator Connie Mack III . He won the election, defeating U.S. Representative Bill McCollum , who ran as the Republican candidate. 2006 election Following the 2004 election , in which Republican George W. Bush was re-elected and the Republican party increased its majority in both the House and the Senate, Nelson was seen as vulnerable. He was a Democrat in a state that Bush had won, though by a margin of only five percentage points.

[24] Evangelical Christian activist James Dobson declared that such Democrats, including Nelson, would be “in the ‘bull’s-eye’” if they supported efforts to block Bush’s judicial nominees; [25] and Nelson’s refusal to support efforts in Congress to intervene in the Terri Schiavo case was seen as “a great political issue” for a Republican opponent to use in mobilizing Christian conservatives against him. [26] Katherine Harris , the former Florida Secretary of State and two-term U.S. representative, defeated three other candidates in the September 5 Republican primary. Harris’s role in the 2000 presidential election made her a polarizing figure. Many Florida Republicans were eager to reward her for her perceived party loyalty in the Bush-Gore election; many Florida Democrats were eager to vote against her for the same reason. [27] In May, when the party found itself unable to recruit a candidate who could defeat Harris in the primary, many Republican activists admitted that the race was already lost. [28] Nelson focused on safe issues, portraying himself as a bipartisan centrist problem-solver. [27] He obtained the endorsement of all 22 of Florida’s daily newspapers.

[29] Harris failed to secure the endorsement of Jeb Bush , who publicly stated that she could not win; the U.S. Chamber of Commerce , which had supported her in her House campaigns, did not endorse her in this race. [30] As the election approached, polls showed Harris trailing Nelson by 26 to 35 points. [31] Nelson transferred about $16.5 million in campaign funds to other Democratic candidates, [32] and won the election with 60.4% of the vote to Harris’s 38.2%. [33] 2012 election Vice President Joe Biden called Nelson crucial to President Obama’s chances for winning Florida in 2012.

In March 2011, Biden was reported as having said that if Nelson lost in 2012, “it means President Obama and the Democratic presidential ticket won’t win the key battleground state, either….’He’s a truly, truly decent guy who has the absolute respect of his colleagues, and I’ve heard that from both sides of the aisle,’ Biden said of his former Senate colleague.” [34] Congressman Connie Mack IV , the son of Nelson’s direct predecessor in the Senate, won the Republican nomination. Nelson eventually defeated Mack with 55.2% of the vote to Mack’s 42.2%. [35] Committee assignments In the 113th session of Congress (ended January 3, 2015), Senator Nelson served on the following committees: United States Senate Special Committee on Aging Political positions According to ratings by the National Journal , Nelson’s votes have been liberal on economic matters, moderate on social issues, and liberal but close to the center on foreign policy.

[36] According to CrowdPac, which gives scores based on a candidate’s “publicly available data” including donations they receive and give, Senator Nelson received a score of 3.5L with 10L being the most liberal and 10C being the most conservative. [37] Central America Free Trade Agreement In 2005, Nelson was one of ten Democrats who voted in favor of the Dominican Republic – Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) on its 55–45 passage in the Senate. [38] Estate tax On several occasions, Nelson has voted to reduce or eliminate the estate tax , [39] notably in June 2006, when he was one of four Democrats voting for a failed (57–41) cloture motion on a bill to eliminate the tax. [40] Withholding funding from the CIA In 2007, Nelson was the only Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee to vote against an amendment to withhold funds for CIA use of enhanced interrogation techniques on terrorism suspects. His vote, combined with those of all Republican members of the committee, killed the measure.

[41] Health care In March 2010, Nelson voted for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 , which passed and were signed into law by President Obama. Space exploration Nelson is seen as a major supporter of the space program. In 2010 he proposed creating as many as “five business enterprise zones as magnets for commercial space ventures”. He said that “the move is expected to attract thousands of jobs to Florida’s ‘Space Coast’ area around NASA’s Kennedy Space Center and the Cape Canaveral Air Force Base.” [42] In March 2010 Nelson complained that Obama had made a mistake in canceling NASA’s Constellation program . [43] On July 7, 2011, it was reported that Nelson said Congress “starved” the space program of funding for several years, but suggested that the situation was turning around and called on the Obama Administration to push for NASA funding.

[44] Don’t Ask Don’t Tell On December 18, 2010, Nelson voted in favor of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Repeal Act of 2010 , [45] [46] which established a legal process for ending the policy that prevented gay and lesbian people from serving openly in the United States Armed Forces . Same-sex marriage On April 4, 2013, Nelson’s announced he no longer opposes same-sex marriage. He wrote, “The civil rights and responsibilities for one must pertain to all. Thus, to discriminate against one class and not another is wrong for me. Simply put, if The Lord made homosexuals as well as heterosexuals, why should I discriminate against their civil marriage? I shouldn’t, and I won’t.” [47] Government spending Bill Nelson voted for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 , often referred to as economic stimulus, proposed by President Obama. [48] In August 2011, Nelson voted for a bill to increase the debt ceiling by $400 billion.

Nelson said that while the bill was not perfect, “this kind of gridlock doesn’t do anything.” Nelson voted against Paul Ryan ‘s budget. [49] Taxes Sen. Nelson works with government storm trackers during a hurricane-hunter flight into the center of Hurricane Charley in August 2004 Nelson voted against a Republican plan to extend the Bush tax cuts to all taxpayers. Instead, Nelson supported extending the tax cuts for those with incomes below $250,000. [49] Nelson voted for the Buffett Rule in April 2012. Speaking of his support for the Buffett Rule, Nelson said he voted to raise the minimum tax rate on incomes over $1 million per year to 30% in order to reduce the budget deficit and to make the tax code more fair.

Nelson said, “In short, tax fairness for deficit reduction just makes common sense.” [50] Foreign aid Bill Nelson voted against Senate Bill 3576 , which called for a prohibition of US aid to the governments of Egypt and Libya “contingent upon the release to US authorities the aggressors who attacked our embassy and consulate in Egypt and Libya.” [51] The bill also would have limited aid to Pakistan until the release of Dr. Shakil Afridi , the doctor who helped the CIA trace Osama bin Laden and is currently imprisoned by the Pakistani government. [51] Gun control Bill Nelson is an advocate for new gun control laws including an Assault Weapons Ban and imposing a ban on magazines over ten rounds. [52] Short sales and credit scores of consumers In May 2013 the Senator requested the Federal Trade Commission and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau investigate why consumers who go through a real estate short sale have their credit score lowered to the same degree as those who go through Foreclosure . The Senator suggested a penalty if the problem is not rectified within ninety days.

[53] Flood Insurance Nelson voted in favor of the Biggert–Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 , which required the National Flood Insurance Program to raise insurance rates for some properties at high risk of flooding. [54] [55] In 2014, following an outcry by Florida property owners facing steep flood insurance rate hikes, [56] Nelson supported legislation to provide retroactive refunds for people who have had large flood insurance rate increases due to the sale or purchase of a home, cap average annual premium increases at 15 to 18 percent and allow subsidies for insurance rates that are based on current flood maps. [57] Interior On June 27, 2013, Nelson co-sponsored the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act of 2013 (S.

1254; 113th Congress) , a bill that would reauthorize and modify the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998 and would authorize the appropriation of $20.5 million annually through 2018 for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to mitigate the harmful effects of algal blooms and hypoxia . [58] [59] Environmental activists praised him for his work on legislation to restore the Gulf Coast after the BP oil spill. [60] Controversies Amateur Radio Parity Act Bill Unable to Overcome Florida Senator’s Objections The Amateur Radio Parity Act, H.R. 1301, suffered an unbefitting demise on December 9 as the 114th Congress drew to a close. After passing the House of Representatives on a unanimous vote earlier this fall, the bill stalled in the Senate due to the intervention of only one member, Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL).

The measure would have directed the FCC to extend its rules relating to reasonable accommodation of Amateur Service communications to private land-use restrictions, such as covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CC&Rs) imposed by homeowners associations. “[During 2016] Nelson received thousands of e-mails, letters, and phone calls from concerned constituents asking for his support of H.R. 1301. Numerous meetings were held with his senior staff in an effort to move the legislation forward,” ARRL said in a news release. “Negotiations, which led to an agreement with the Community Associations Institute (CAI), the national association of homeowner’s associations and publicly supported by CAI and ARRL, were brushed aside by Sen. Nelson as irrelevant.” In a final meeting with Nelson’s staff as the 114th Congress neared adjournment, it became clear that no matter what was said or done, the Senator would oppose the bill and refuse to allow it to move forward.

Because the measure had not been put on the floor schedule, the only way it could have passed the Senate would have been through a process called “unanimous consent.” A Senate member may request unanimous consent on the floor to set aside rules and expedite proceedings. If any single Senator objects, though, the request is rejected. The unhappy ending followed nearly 2 years of intense effort on the part of ARRL and thousands of its members, who contacted their Congressional representatives to urge their support of the measure on Capitol Hill. The ARRL Board of Directors is expected to discuss the future of the initiative at its January meeting. Fundraising On February 17, 2009, David D. Kirkpatrick wrote that Nelson was one of three lawmakers who “were returning campaign contributions from donors listed as employees of the PMA Group, a Washington lobbying firm whose founder is under investigation for purportedly funneling money through bogus donors”.

[61] During his 2006 Senate campaign, according to the Open Congress website, Nelson “was accused of taking $80,000 in illegal campaign contributions from Riscorp, Inc… The Riscorp scandal involved dozens of Florida state legislators and was among the largest scandals in recent Florida history.” [62] Council on American-Islamic Relations In November 2011, Ahmed Bedier, an activist linked to CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood, donated money to Nelson and co-hosted a fundraiser for him. Nelson’s representatives later claimed that he “did not know about Bedier’s relationship with CAIR” and that Bedier had exaggerated his closeness to the senator. [63] In November 2011 Marc Caputo of the Miami Herald wrote that the scandal over Bedier threatened the Jewish vote for Nelson, given that Bedier had called Israel a “terrorist state.” Caputo noted that while “Nelson has gone to great lengths to fashion himself as pro-Israel”, that was not enough for some conservative groups. [64] Syria visit In December 2006, Nelson made a trip to Syria to visit President Bashar Assad in Damascus.

[65] At the time, the Bush Administration had a no contact policy with Syrian officials because “of its support of Hezbollah and Hamas, which the U.S. deems terrorist organizations”. [66] The White House press secretary commented on the trip saying, “We don’t think that members of Congress ought to be going there”. [66] The State Department also disapproved of the trip, but provided logistical support to Nelson. [67] Electoral history About: Bill Nelson About: Bill Nelson An Entity of Type : office holder , from Named Graph : , within Data Space : dbpedia.org Clarence William "Bill" Nelson II (born September 29, 1942) is an American politician and a member of the Democratic Party who serves as the senior United States Senator from Florida, in office since 2001. Nelson began his career in the Florida House of Representatives, where he served from 1973 to 1979. He was elected to United States House of Representatives in 1978, serving to 1991. In January 1986, Nelson became the second sitting member of the United States Congress to fly in space.

He flew as a Payload Specialist on the Space Shuttle Columbia. Property abstract Clarence William Nelson dit Bill Nelson, né le à Miami, est un homme politique américain, sénateur démocrate de la Floride au Congrès des États-Unis depuis 2001. Il fut le second parlementaire américain à voyager dans l'espace, à bord de la navette spatiale Columbia. (fr) Clarence William "Bill" Nelson II (born September 29, 1942) is an American politician and a member of the Democratic Party who serves as the senior United States Senator from Florida, in office since 2001. Nelson began his career in the Florida House of Representatives, where he served from 1973 to 1979. He was elected to United States House of Representatives in 1978, serving to 1991. In January 1986, Nelson became the second sitting member of the United States Congress to fly in space. He flew as a Payload Specialist on the Space Shuttle Columbia. He retired from Congress in 1990 to run for Governor of Florida but was unsuccessful.

He was appointed as Treasurer, Insurance Commissioner and Fire Marshal of Florida, serving from 1995 to 2001. In 2000, Nelson ran for and was elected to the U.S. Senate seat vacated by retiring Republican Senator Connie Mack III. He was re-elected in 2006 with 60% of the vote and in 2012 with 55% of the vote. In the Senate, he is generally considered a liberal on both social and economic issues. (en) Volò come specialista di carico a bordo dello Space Shuttle durante la missione STS-61-C. (it) Clarence William „Bill“ Nelson Jr. (* 29. September 1942 in Miami, Florida) ist ein US-amerikanischer Politiker und ehemaliger Astronaut. Seit dem Jahr 2001 gehört er als Vertreter Floridas dem Senat der Vereinigten Staaten an. (de) Clarence William "Bill" Nelson (29 de septiembre de 1942) es un político estadounidense del Partido Demócrata y actual Senador Senior del estado de Florida.

(es) Bill Nelson, właśc. Clarence William Nelson (ur. 29 września 1942) – amerykański polityk, senator reprezentujący stan Floryda z ramienia Partii Demokratycznej. Urodzony w Miami Nelson studiował na Uniwersytecie Yale oraz uniwersytecie stanu Wirginia (prawo). Studia na Yale ukończył w roku 1965, zaś w Wirginii w 1968. Ponadto służył w rezerwie US Army w latach 1965-1971, a w służbie czynnej 1968-1970. Pracował jako prawnik zanim wybrano go do stanowej Izby Reprezentantów, gdzie zasiadał w latach 1972-1979. Potem wybrano go do Izby Reprezentantów USA. Jego kadencja kongresowa trwała od 1979 do 1991 roku.

W tym czasie Nelson został drugim w historii (i pierwszym z Izby) członkiem Kongresu, który wziął udział w misji kosmicznej. Miało to miejsce w roku 1986, kiedy to był specjalistą na promie kosmicznym Columbia (lot STS-61-C). Jego zadaniem było poznanie „od podszewki” problemów związanych z realizacją programu STS. Ponadto powierzono mu obsługę aparatury do doświadczeń nad krystalizacją prostych protein. Podczas prawyborów demokratycznych roku 1990 ubiegał się o stanowisko gubernatora Florydy, ale przegrał w byłym senatorem Lawtonem Chilesem, który z kolei pokonał urzędującego republikańskiego gubernatora Boba Martineza. Zamiast tego Nelson pełnił w latach 1995-1999 urząd stanowego komisarza ds. handlu.

W wyborach roku 2000 ówczesny republikański senator Connie Mack III nie ubiegał się o ponowny wybór i jego miejsce zajął Nelson, pokonując ówczesnego republikańskiego kongresmena Billa McColluma. Zdobył kolejną kadencję w wyborach roku 2006. Jego przeciwniczką z ramienia republikanów była kongresmen i była stanowa sekretarz stanu Katherine Harris.

Przez całą kampanię Nelson miał wyraźną przewagę w sondażach i ostatecznie pokonał ją stosunkiem głosów 60% do 38% (pl) クラレンス・ウィリアム「ビル」ネルソン (Clarence William "Bill" Nelson, 1942年9月29日 - ) は、アメリカ合衆国の政治家。フロリダ州選出上院議員、民主党所属。1986年に彼はスペースシャトル、コロンビアにペイロードスペシャリストとして乗り組み、宇宙飛行を行った二人目の現職議員となった。 (ja) Clarence William (Bill) Nelson (Miami (Florida), 29 september 1942) is een Amerikaans politicus van de Democratische Partij.

Hij is Senator voor Florida sinds 2001, daarvoor was hij Afgevaardigde voor het 11e district van Florida van 1991 tot 1983 en Afgevaardigde voor het 9e district van 1979 tot 1983. Naast zijn politieke carrière was Nelson ook enige tijd astronaut voor NASA. In januari 1986 was Nelson "payloadspecialist" tijdens missie STS-61-C (nl) Clarence William "Bill" Nelson mais conhecido como Bill Nelson (Miami, 29 de setembro de 1942), é um político e astronauta estadunidense, senador pelo estado da Flórida desde 2001. É membro do Partido Democrata. Também exerceu mandato na Câmara dos Representantes da Flórida entre 1972 e 1979 e na Câmara dos Representantes dos Estados Unidos entre 1979 e 1991.

Disputou a indicação do partido para concorrer ao governo da Flórida em 1990, mas foi derrotado por Lawton Chiles. Viajou ao espaço entre 12 de janeiro e 18 de janeiro de 1986 na missão STS-61-C, do ônibus espacial Challenger, no último vôo de sucesso desta nave antes do desastre de 28 de janeiro de 1986. (pt) Клэ́ренс Уи́льям "Билл" Не́льсон II (англ. Clarens William 'Bill' Nelson II; род. 1942) — астронавт США. Совершил один космический полёт на шаттле: STS-61C (1986, «Колумбия»), инженер, сенатор США от штата Флорида. (ru) Volò come specialista di carico a bordo dello Space Shuttle durante la missione STS-61-C. (it) Clarence William „Bill“ Nelson Jr.

(* 29. September 1942 in Miami, Florida) ist ein US-amerikanischer Politiker und ehemaliger Astronaut. Seit dem Jahr 2001 gehört er als Vertreter Floridas dem Senat der Vereinigten Staaten an. (de) Clarence William "Bill" Nelson (29 de septiembre de 1942) es un político estadounidense del Partido Demócrata y actual Senador Senior del estado de Florida.

(es) クラレンス・ウィリアム「ビル」ネルソン (Clarence William "Bill" Nelson, 1942年9月29日 - ) は、アメリカ合衆国の政治家。フロリダ州選出上院議員、民主党所属。1986年に彼はスペースシャトル、コロンビアにペイロードスペシャリストとして乗り組み、宇宙飛行を行った二人目の現職議員となった。 (ja) Clarence William "Bill" Nelson mais conhecido como Bill Nelson (Miami, 29 de setembro de 1942), é um político e astronauta estadunidense, senador pelo estado da Flórida desde 2001. É membro do Partido Democrata. Também exerceu mandato na Câmara dos Representantes da Flórida entre 1972 e 1979 e na Câmara dos Representantes dos Estados Unidos entre 1979 e 1991.

Disputou a indicação do partido para concorrer ao governo da Flórida em 1990, mas foi derrotado por Lawton Chiles. Viajou ao espaço entre 12 de janeiro e 18 de janeiro de 1986 na missão STS-61-C, do ônibus espacial Challenger, no último vôo de sucesso desta nave antes do desastre de 28 de janeiro de 1986. (pt) Клэ́ренс Уи́льям "Билл" Не́льсон II (англ. Clarens William 'Bill' Nelson II; род. 1942) — астронавт США. Совершил один космический полёт на шаттле: STS-61C (1986, «Колумбия»), инженер, сенатор США от штата Флорида.

(ru) Clarence William "Bill" Nelson II (born September 29, 1942) is an American politician and a member of the Democratic Party who serves as the senior United States Senator from Florida, in office since 2001. Nelson began his career in the Florida House of Representatives, where he served from 1973 to 1979. He was elected to United States House of Representatives in 1978, serving to 1991. In January 1986, Nelson became the second sitting member of the United States Congress to fly in space. He flew as a Payload Specialist on the Space Shuttle Columbia. (en) Clarence William Nelson dit Bill Nelson, né le à Miami, est un homme politique américain, sénateur démocrate de la Floride au Congrès des États-Unis depuis 2001. Il fut le second parlementaire américain à voyager dans l'espace, à bord de la navette spatiale Columbia. (fr) Clarence William (Bill) Nelson (Miami (Florida), 29 september 1942) is een Amerikaans politicus van de Democratische Partij.

Hij is Senator voor Florida sinds 2001, daarvoor was hij Afgevaardigde voor het 11e district van Florida van 1991 tot 1983 en Afgevaardigde voor het 9e district van 1979 tot 1983.Naast zijn politieke carrière was Nelson ook enige tijd astronaut voor NASA. In januari 1986 was Nelson "payloadspecialist" tijdens missie STS-61-C (nl) Bill Nelson, właśc. Clarence William Nelson (ur. 29 września 1942) – amerykański polityk, senator reprezentujący stan Floryda z ramienia Partii Demokratycznej.Urodzony w Miami Nelson studiował na Uniwersytecie Yale oraz uniwersytecie stanu Wirginia (prawo). Studia na Yale ukończył w roku 1965, zaś w Wirginii w 1968.

Ponadto służył w rezerwie US Army w latach 1965-1971, a w służbie czynnej 1968-1970.Zamiast tego Nelson pełnił w latach 1995-1999 urząd stanowego komisarza ds. handlu. (pl) sts-61c | Space Patch Database STS-61C - 4" - A-B Emblem - Single piece no flag Submitted by liem on Sun, 09/22/2013 - 17:55 STS-61-C was the twenty-fourth mission of NASA's Space Shuttle program, and the seventh mission of Space Shuttle Columbia. It was the first time that Columbia, the first operational orbiter to be constructed, had flown since STS-9. The mission launched from Florida's Kennedy Space Center on 12 January 1986, and landed six days later on 18 January.

STS-61-C's seven-person crew included the second African-American shuttle pilot, future NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, the first Costa Rican-born astronaut, Franklin Chang-Diaz, and the second sitting politician to fly in space, Representative Bill Nelson (D-FL). It was the last shuttle mission before the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster, which occurred just ten days after STS-61-C's landing. The A-B Emblem issue patch has single-piece construction. Cut edge. This a single piece A-B Emblem version without the flag on the side of the orbiter. Size: STS-61C - 4" - A-B Emblem - Tabbed Submitted by liem on Sun, 09/22/2013 - 17:53 STS-61-C was the twenty-fourth mission of NASA's Space Shuttle program, and the seventh mission of Space Shuttle Columbia. It was the first time that Columbia, the first operational orbiter to be constructed, had flown since STS-9. The mission launched from Florida's Kennedy Space Center on 12 January 1986, and landed six days later on 18 January.

STS-61-C's seven-person crew included the second African-American shuttle pilot, future NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, the first Costa Rican-born astronaut, Franklin Chang-Diaz, and the second sitting politician to fly in space, Representative Bill Nelson (D-FL). It was the last shuttle mission before the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster, which occurred just ten days after STS-61-C's landing. The A-B Emblem issue patch has two-piece construction. Cut edge. There is also a single piece A-B Emblem version with and without the flag on the side of the orbiter. Size: STS-61C - Unknown maker Submitted by liem on Sat, 04/13/2013 - 20:19 STS-61-C was the twenty-fourth mission of NASA's Space Shuttle program, and the seventh mission of Space Shuttle Columbia. It was the first time that Columbia, the first operational orbiter to be constructed, had flown since STS-9. The mission launched from Florida's Kennedy Space Center on 12 January 1986, and landed six days later on 18 January.

STS-61-C's seven-person crew included the second African-American shuttle pilot, future NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, the first Costa Rican-born astronaut, Franklin Chang-Diaz, and the second sitting politician to fly in space, Representative Bill Nelson (D-FL). It was the last shuttle mission before the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster, which occurred just ten days after STS-61-C's landing. One piece construction. This patch has a merrowed edge and modern embroidery. Size: STS-61C - 4" - A-B Emblem - Single piece Submitted by liem on Sat, 04/13/2013 - 20:16 STS-61-C was the twenty-fourth mission of NASA's Space Shuttle program, and the seventh mission of Space Shuttle Columbia. It was the first time that Columbia, the first operational orbiter to be constructed, had flown since STS-9. The mission launched from Florida's Kennedy Space Center on 12 January 1986, and landed six days later on 18 January.

STS-61-C's seven-person crew included the second African-American shuttle pilot, future NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, the first Costa Rican-born astronaut, Franklin Chang-Diaz, and the second sitting politician to fly in space, Representative Bill Nelson (D-FL). It was the last shuttle mission before the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster, which occurred just ten days after STS-61-C's landing. The A-B Emblem issue patch has single-piece construction. Cut edge. There is also a single piece A-B Emblem version without the flag on the side of the orbiter. Size: Senator Bill Nelson Personal Patch - STS-61C Submitted by liem on Mon, 02/25/2013 - 12:14 Bill Nelson was a Captain in the United States Army, serving in the reserves from 1965 to 1971, and was on active duty from 1968 to 1970. His public service career began in 1972, with his election to the Florida Legislature. During his three terms, he helped enact the nation’s first state law to protect consumers from computer fraud and advocated for responsible growth management laws.

Elected to the U.S. Congress in 1978, he served six terms representing Orlando and the Space Coast and became an early advocate for a balanced federal budget. In January 1986, Nelson spent six days orbiting Earth as a payload specialist aboard space shuttle Columbia. That experience gave him a new perspective on the Earth’s fragile environment and a greater appreciation of the importance of our nation’s space exploration program. STS-61C Columbia (January 12-18, 1986) launched from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, and returned to a night landing at Edwards Air Force Base, California. During the six-day flight the seven-man crew aboard Columbiadeployed the SATCOM KU satellite and conducted experiments in astrophysics and materials processing. At mission conclusion Bill Nelson had traveled over 2.1 million miles in 96 earth orbits and logged over 146 hours in space.

Size: Shuttle Upper Atmosphere Mass Spectrometer (SUMS) Submitted by liem on Mon, 02/25/2013 - 12:14 The SUMS experiment complements SEADS by enabling measurement of atmospheric density above 300,000 feet. SUMS samples air through a small hole on the lower surface of the vehicle just aft of the nosecap. It uses a mass spectrometer operating as a pressure sensing device to measure atmospheric density in the high altitude, rarefied flow regime where the pressure is too low for the use of ordinary pressure sensors. The mass spectrometer, incorprated in the SUMS experiment, was spare equipment originally developed for the Viking Mars Lander. SUMS was previously flown on STS-61C and STS-35. Robert C. Blanchard and Roy J. Duckett of Langley Research Center are co-principal investigators. Both SEADS and SUMS provide entry atmospheric environmental (density) information. These data, when combined with vehicle motion data, are used to determine in-flight aerodynamic performance characteristics of the orbiter.

Project: Senator William Clarence Nelson | Vote Lakeland Senator William Clarence Nelson by Leanna Duran Clarence William “Bill” Nelson (born September 29, 1942) is an American politician and member of the Democratic Party who serves as the senior United States Senator from Florida, in office since 2001. Nelson began his career in the Florida House of Representatives, where he served from 1973 to 1979. He then served in the United States House of Representatives from 1979 to 1991 and in January 1986, Nelson became the second sitting member of the United States Congress to fly in space. He flew as a Payload Specialist on the Space Shuttle Columbia.He retired from Congress in 1990 to unsuccessfully run for Governor of Florida. He then served as Treasurer, Insurance Commissioner and Fire Marshal of Florida from 1995 to 2001. In 2000, Nelson ran for and was elected to the U.S. Senate seat vacated by retiring Republican Senator Connie Mack III.

He was re-elected in 2006 with 60% of the vote[2] and in 2012 with 55% of the vote. In the Senate, he is generally considered a social moderate and an economic liberal.

Question: In January 1986 US politician Bill Nelson was aboard which space shuttle when he became the second sitting member of the United States Congress to fly in space?
Answer: Columbia