{{Short description|American politician and attorney (born 1942)}}{{other people|Bill Nelson}}{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2022}}{{Use American English|date=January 2014}}

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NASA Administrator Bill Nelson Official Portrait (NHQ202105170001).jpg| caption = Official portrait, 2021

List of administrators and deputy administrators of NASA>Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration| president = Joe Biden| deputy = Pamela Melroy| term_start = May 3, 2021| term_end = | predecessor = Jim Bridenstine| successor = | jr/sr1 = United States Senator| state1 = Florida| term_start1 = January 3, 2001| term_end1 = January 3, 2019| predecessor1 = Connie Mack III| successor1 = Rick Scott{hide}collapsed infobox section begin |last=yes |Committee chairmanships

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9th district}} (1979â€“1983){{ushr

11|11th district}} (1983â€“1991)| state_house6 = Florida| district6 = 47th| term_start6 = November 7, 1972| term_end6 = November 7, 1978| predecessor6 = Redistricted| successor6 = Tim Deratany| birth_name = Clarence William Nelson II

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University of Florida

Yale University (Bachelor of Arts>BA)

University of Virginia (Juris Doctor>JD)}}| allegiance = | branch = United States Army

United States Army Reserve>reserve)1968â€“1970 (active)

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United States Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Space and Science>Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Space and Science hearing on human space explorationRecorded April 23, 2013}}}}Clarence William Nelson II (born September 29, 1942) is an American politician and attorney serving as the administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Nelson 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. In January 1986, Nelson became the second sitting member of U.S. Congress to fly in space, after Senator Jake Garn, when he served as a payload specialist on mission STS-61-C aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia. Before entering politics he served in the U.S. Army Reserve during the Vietnam War.WEB,weblink Florida Marriage Collection, 1822â€“1875 and 1927â€“2001, Ancestry.com, Nelson retired from Congress in 1990 to run for governor of Florida, but was unsuccessful. He was later elected Treasurer, Insurance Commissioner and Fire Marshal of Florida, serving from 1995 to 2001. In 2000, Nelson was elected to the U.S. Senate seat that had been vacated by retiring Republican senator Connie Mack III with 51% of the vote. He was reelected in 2006 with 60% of the vote"Sen. Bill Nelson (D)" {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130511185848weblink |date=May 11, 2013 }}, National Journal Almanac, December 31, 2008. Retrieved February 9, 2012. and in 2012 with 55% of the vote. Nelson ran in 2018 for a fourth term, but was narrowly defeated in the general election by then-Governor Rick Scott. In May 2019, Nelson was appointed to serve on NASA's advisory council.NEWS,weblink Former U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson named to NASA advisory committee, May 28, 2019, June 2, 2019, In the U.S. Senate, Nelson was generally considered a centrist and a moderate Democrat.WEB,weblink Bill Nelson pitches long-held moderate message in tight U.S. Senate race, Tampabay.com, January 5, 2018, WEB, Sullivan, Erin,weblink U.S. Rep. Connie Mack takes on longtime Sen. Bill Nelson | News, Orlando Weekly, January 5, 2018, WEB,weblink Sen. Bill Nelson fights off GOP efforts to tag him a liberal | Tampa Bay Times, April 9, 2016, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160423190114weblink">weblink April 23, 2016, WEB,weblink U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson: Nelson works hard to be seen as moderate - tribunedigital-orlandosentinel, Orlando Sentinel, October 25, 2012, January 5, 2018, April 24, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160424000640weblink">weblink dead, Nelson supported same-sex marriage, lowering taxes on lower and middle income families, expanding environmental programs and regulation, protecting the Affordable Care Act, and expanding Medicaid. Nelson chaired the Senate Aging Committee from 2013 to 2015, and served as ranking member of the Senate Commerce Committee from 2015 to 2019.On March 19, 2021, President Joe Biden announced his intention to nominate Nelson to the position of NASA administrator.WEB, March 19, 2021, President Biden Announces his Intent to Nominate Bill Nelson for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration,weblink March 19, 2021, The White House, en-US, Nelson was confirmed by unanimous consent by the Senate on April 29, 2021, and was sworn in by vice president Kamala Harris on May 3, 2021.

Early life and education

Nelson was born on September 29, 1942, in Miami, Florida, the only child of Nannie Merle and Clarence William Nelson.WEB,weblink Bill Nelson, Florida 4-H Hall of Fame, April 1, 2012, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20120301080242weblink">weblink March 1, 2012, His father was a real estate investor and a lawyer.NEWS, McCarthy, John, October 11, 2018, Bill Nelson: Noble career or career politician? Will Florida's senator bat 15-1 or 14-2?, Florida Today,weblink January 5, 2022, He is of Scottish, Irish, English, and Danish descent.WEB,weblink Niuzer.com, November 7, 2012, March 4, 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160304063721weblink">weblink dead, WEB,weblink bill nelson, Freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com, November 20, 2013, His father died of a heart attack when Nelson was 14 and his mother of Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS) when he was 24.WEB,weblink Despite Similarities, Senate Hopefuls Have Big Differences, Sun-Sentinel, October 29, 2000, July 16, 2014, July 28, 2014,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20140728195045weblink">weblink dead, Nelson grew up in Melbourne, Florida, where he attended Melbourne High School.WEB, Biography,weblink dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20090804224841weblink">weblink August 4, 2009, August 30, 2022, He attended Baptist and Episcopal churches but later was baptized through immersion in a Baptist church. He served as International President of Kiwanis-sponsored Key Club International (1959â€“1960).Kiwanis Magazine, December 2012, p. 14. In 2005, he joined the First Presbyterian Church in Orlando.Stratton, Jim. "Nelson doesn't act like Christian, Harris says". Orlando Sentinel. October 6, 2006. Retrieved March 28, 2010.Nelson attended the University of Florida, where he was a member of Florida Blue Key and Beta Theta Pi social fraternity.WEB, Van Ness, Carl, 2021, The Swamp, Undrained: What's Orange and Blue and Red? The Presidential Hopefuls and Other Politicians Who Have Made a Stop at the University of Florida. See Photos of Their Visits.,weblink live, Www.uff.full.edu,weblink December 21, 2021, He transferred to Yale University after two years at the University of Florida. At Yale he would be roommates with Bruce Smathers, the son of Florida senator George Smathers. Nelson received a Bachelor of Arts with a major in political science from Yale University in 1965 and a Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia in 1968."Bill Nelson (D-Fla.)". {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090929143739weblink |date=September 29, 2009}} WhoRunsGov.com. Retrieved December 15, 2009.In 1965, during the Vietnam War, he joined the United States 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.

Space Shuttle Columbia

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. Nelson was a Payload Specialist on {{OV|102}}'s STS-61-C mission from January 12 to 18, 1986. This mission was the last successful Space Shuttle flight prior to the Challenger accident, which occurred ten days after the end of this mission. In 1988, Nelson published a book about his space flight experience entitled Mission: An American Congressman's Voyage to Space.BOOK, Nelson, Bill, 1988, Mission: An American Congressman's Voyage to Space, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 978-0151055562, registration,weblink

Early political career

Florida Legislature

(File:Bill Nelson in 1972.jpg|thumb|160px|Nelson in 1972 as a Florida State Representative)In 1972, Nelson was elected to the Florida House of Representatives as the member from the 47th district, representing much of Brevard County and portions of Orange County and Seminole County.WEB,weblink Florida House of Representatives - Historic Journals, www.myfloridahouse.gov, June 19, 2016, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160817001312weblink">weblink August 17, 2016, He won reelection in 1974 and 1976."Bill Nelson" {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100114003309weblink |date=January 14, 2010 }}. Washington Post:U.S. Congress Votes Database. Retrieved December 16, 2009.

U.S. House of Representatives

Nelson was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1978 in the open 9th congressional district after the five-term Republican incumbent, Louis Frey Jr., chose to run for governor of Florida rather than for reelection.WEB,weblink FREY, Louis, Jr. - Biographical Information, bioguide.congress.gov, June 19, 2016, In 1980, Nelson was reelected to that district, which encompassed all of Brevard and part of Orange County. He was redistricted to the 11th congressional district, encompassing all of Brevard and parts of Orange, Indian River, and Osceola counties; he won reelection in 1982, 1984, 1986, and 1988. He remained a member of the U.S. House of Representatives until 1991.Nelson chaired the House Space Subcommittee for six yearsWEB, Dunbar, Brian, May 3, 2021, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson,weblink December 13, 2021, NASA, as a key member of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology.NEWS, Sawyer, Kathy, October 31, 1987, SPACE STATION AUTHORIZATION SIGNED, en-US, Washington Post,weblink December 13, 2021, 0190-8286, NEWS, Sawyer, Kathy, April 4, 1987, REAGAN APPROVES TWO-PART PLAN IN BID TO RESCUE SPACE STATION, en-US, Washington Post,weblink December 13, 2021, 0190-8286, His district included Cape Canaveral and its space facility. In 1988, Bill Nelson criticized President Reagan's policy to export American satellites for launch on China's Long March rockets. Nelson called this an "inconsistent administration policy." Nelson stated that Reagan "wanted to build up commercial space ventures, and on the other hand, he is cutting off the commercial space ventures at the knees with these export licenses."NEWS, Goldberg, Jeffrey, September 10, 1988, REAGAN BACKS PLAN TO LAUNCH SATELLITES FROM CHINA ROCKETS, en-US, Washington Post,weblink December 13, 2021, 0190-8286,

1990 gubernatorial election

In 1990, Nelson ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for governor of Florida. His primary rival was former U.S. senator Lawton Chiles. During the campaign, the younger Nelson tried to highlight Chiles' age and use of Prozac to treat his depression, but this proved to be an unpopular strategy, and Nelson lost by a wide margin, getting 30.5% of the vote to Chiles' 69.5%. Chiles went on to win the general election.NEWS, Myra, MacPherson, Prozac, prejudice and the politics of depression, September 2, 1990, August 26, 2021, Washington, D.C., United States of America, The Washington Post, 0190-8286, 2269358, Fred, Ryan, Fred Ryan, Sally, Buzbee, Sally Buzbee,weblink June 21, 2018,weblink NEWS, James, Lemoyne, New York City, New York (state), New York, United States of America, April 25, 1990, August 26, 2021, A16, The New York Times, CLXX, 1645522, 0362-4331, Arthur Ochs Sr., Sulzberger, Punch Sulzberger, registration, May 25, 2015,weblink weblink Main section (national news), Chiles Transforms Florida Campaign, 83,

Treasurer, Insurance Commissioner and Fire Marshal

File:Governor Bush and the Cabinet - Tallahassee, Florida.jpg|thumb|Governor Jeb Bush Jeb BushIn 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 won re-election to the office, again defeating Ireland.In 2000, Nelson announced that he would be running for the United States Senate seat held by retiring Republican Connie Mack III.WEB,weblink Division of Elections - Florida Department of State, state.fl.us, October 13, 2013,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20121018011043weblink">weblink October 18, 2012, dead, Florida's resign-to-run law compelled Nelson to submit his resignation as Treasurer, Insurance Commissioner and Fire Marshal 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 on which new senators would be sworn in.NEWS,weblink Resign-to-Run Law Â§ 99.012, Fla. Stat., State.fl.us, August 22, 2000, October 15, 2013,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20121018011043weblink">weblink October 18, 2012, dead,

United States Senate

Elections

2000

(File:Bill Nelson.jpg|thumb|right|Nelson's official Senate portrait, {{circa|2001}})(File:Bill Nelson, official NASA photo.jpg|thumb|NASA photo ({{circa}} 1986))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

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."For Democrats in red states, 2006 daunting". Washington Times. November 29, 2004. Retrieved December 22, 2009.Evangelical Christian activist James Dobson declared that Democrats, including Nelson, would be "in the 'bull's-eye'" if they supported efforts to block Bush's judicial nominees.Kirkpatrick, David D. "Evangelical Leader Threatens to Use His Political Muscle Against Some Democrats". New York Times. January 1, 2005. Retrieved December 22, 2009. 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.NEWS, Charles, Babington, Mike, Allen, March 21, 2005,weblink Congress Passes Schiavo Measure, The Washington Post, December 4, 2022, 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, while many Florida Democrats were eager to vote against her for the same reason.Gibson, William E."Senate Race Centers on Images" {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724235859weblink |date=July 24, 2011 }}. Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel. October 20, 2006. Retrieved December 22, 2009. 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.Kumar, Anita. "GOP can't elude Harris vs. Nelson" {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110523234134weblink |date=May 23, 2011}}.St. Petersburg Times. May 11, 2006. Retrieved December 22, 2009.Nelson focused on safe issues, portraying himself as a bipartisan centrist problem-solver.He obtained the endorsement of all 22 of Florida's daily newspapers.Clark, Lesley. "Nelson goes 22â€“0". Naked Politics (Miami Herald blog). October 30, 2006. Retrieved December 22, 2009. 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.Kormanik, Beth. "Harris, Nelson tout testimonials". Florida Times-Union. October 31, 2006. Retrieved December 22, 2009.As the election approached, polls showed Harris trailing Nelson by 26 to 35 points.Copeland, Libby. "Campaign Gone South". Washington Post. October 31, 2006. Retrieved December 22, 2009. Nelson transferred about $16.5 million in campaign funds to other Democratic candidates,Gibson, William E. "Nelson Rolls To Second Term" {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724235905weblink |date=July 24, 2011 }}. Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel. November 8, 2006. Retrieved December 22, 2009. and won the election with 2,890,548 votes to Harris's 1,826,127 votes.WEB, Miller, Lorraine C., September 21, 2007, Statistics of the General Election of 2006,weblink dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20200626012047weblink">weblink June 26, 2020, March 2, 2021, Clerk of the US House of Representatives, He won 57 out of the state's 67 counties.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}

2012

File:VP Biden speaks at USACE Everglades project - 6990192814.jpg|thumb|Nelson with Vice President Joe Biden and Rep. Alcee Hastings in Miami-Dade County, Florida Miami-Dade County, FloridaVice 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."WEB, Biden: If Bill Nelson loses Senate race, Obama won't win Florida in 2012,weblink The Hill, March 24, 2011, November 8, 2014, 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%.NEWS, 2012 U.S. Senate Election Results,weblink The Washington Post, December 24, 2012,

2018

Nelson ran for re-election in 2018. He ran unopposed in the Democratic Party primary, which took place on August 28, 2018.NEWS, King, Ledyard, U.S. Senate: Primary election a formality for Sen. Bill Nelson and Gov. Rick Scott,weblink August 14, 2018, Tallahassee Democrat, August 10, 2018, NEWS, Florida Primary Election Results,weblink August 29, 2018, The New York Times, August 28, 2018, He faced incumbent Florida governor Rick Scott (a Republican) in the general election on November 6, 2018. The extremely tight race—with a margin of less than 0.25% separating Nelson and Scott—triggered a manual recount as mandated by state law.John McCarthy, Bill Nelson-Rick Scott Florida Senate race now in 'hand recount' territory, Florida Today (November 8, 2018). A recount showed that Scott had defeated Nelson by 10,033 votes.WEB,weblink Reuters, November 18, 2018, November 18, 2018, Republican Scott wins Florida U.S. Senate seat after manual recount, Woodall, Bernie, A paper by scholars at the MIT Election Data and Science Lab concluded that the design of Broward County's 2018 general election ballots may have resulted in Nelson receiving 9,658 fewer votes than he otherwise would have received (which would have narrowed Scott's margin of victory but not changed the result of the election). The study found that many voters did not see the U.S. Senate race on the lower left side of the ballot and, as a result, did not cast votes in that race.WEB,weblink Bad ballot design in Broward County cost Bill Nelson 9,658 votes in ultra-tight loss to Rick Scott, Man, Anthony, orlandosentinel.com, July 12, 2019,

Committee assignments

In the 113th United States Congress, Nelson served on the following committees:

In the 114th United States Congress, Nelson served on the following committees:

Post-Senate activities

On May 28, 2019, Nelson was appointed to serve on NASA's advisory council. Nelson was a member-at-large of the council, which advises on all major program and policy issues before the agency. His appointment was praised by NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine, who stated that "Nelson is a true champion for human spaceflight and will add tremendous value as we go to the Moon and on to Mars."Nelson endorsed former vice president Joe Biden for President of the United States in 2020.WEB, Contorno, Steve, Joe Biden Picks up Florida Endorsements, Including Bill Nelson and Bob Graham,weblink Tampa Bay Times, July 29, 2019, July 30, 2019,

NASA administrator

File:NASA Administrator Bill Nelson Swearing-In Ceremony (NHQ202105030005).jpg|thumb|Nelson is sworn in as the 14th NASA administrator by Vice President Kamala Harris Kamala Harris

Nomination

On February 22, 2021, reports emerged that President Biden was considering nominating Nelson to be the NASA Administrator,WEB, Speck, Emilee, Report: President Biden considering former Sen. Bill Nelson to lead NASA,weblink Tampa Bay Times, February 22, 2021, February 23, 2021, then, on March 18, 2021, it was reported that Biden had selected Nelson for the position,NEWS, President Biden Announces his Intent to Nominate Bill Nelson for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, en-US, White House,weblink March 20, 2021, with Biden officially announcing the decision the next day.NEWS, March 20, 2021, Bill Nelson: Former astronaut and senator nominated as Nasa chief, en-GB, BBC News,weblink March 20, 2021, Nelson's nomination received widespread support from members of Congress from both parties, including from Nelson's former opponent and successor in the senate Rick Scott, as well as the overall space industry.WEB, Foust, Jeff, Widespread support for Nelson nomination to lead NASA,weblink Space News, March 19, 2021, April 18, 2021, The United States Senate in unanimous consent voted to confirm Nelson to be NASA Administrator on April 29, 2021. Nelson was sworn in on May 3, 2021, by Vice President Kamala Harris.WEB,weblink Senate confirms ex-Sen. Nelson to NASA, The Hill (newspaper), The Hill, April 30, 2021, April 29, 2021,

Tenure

Biden chose former Space Shuttle commanders Pam Melroy and Bob Cabana to assist Nelson as deputy administrator and associate administrator, respectively.WEB,weblink Bill Nelson came to NASA to do two things, and heâ€™s all out of bubblegum

access-date=March 21, 2024

WORK=SPACE NEWS

DATE=NOVEMBER 16, 2023, Despite opposing them in the past, Nelson became a steadfast supporter of commercial fixed-price contracts and allowing aerospace companies to bid for contracts, saying, "with that competitive spirit, you get it done cheaper."WEB,weblink NASA chief says competition is making space exploration cheaper, in dramatic shift on contracts, NBC News, March 21, 2024, May 3, 2022, He also affirmed his support for the Artemis Program, and through former Senate colleagues was able to get the entire requested Artemis funding for 2022, the first time that had happened.WEB,weblink Bill Nelson came to NASA to do two things, and heâ€™s all out of bubblegum, Ars Technica, March 21, 2024, December 13, 2022, As NASA administrator, Nelson has overseen the deployment of the James Webb Space Telescope, the Artemis I mission, and the DART asteroid impact, as well as significant progress towards future Artemis launches.WEB,weblink Bill Nelson came to NASA to do two things, and heâ€™s all out of bubblegum, Ars Technica, March 21, 2024, December 13, 2022,

Political positions

Nelson was often considered to be a moderate Democrat.NEWS,weblink Nelson and Miami Reps called 'CentristÂ¿, Gibson, William, Sun-Sentinel, June 22, 2018, en-US, He has styled himself as a centrist during his various campaigns.NEWS,weblink Bill Nelson pitches long-held moderate message in tight U.S. Senate race, October 28, 2012, June 22, 2018, During Nelson's 2018 re-election campaign, challenger Rick Scott characterized Nelson as a "socialist"; PolitiFact described the assertion as "pants-on-fire" false.NEWS,weblink Gov. Rick Scott wrongly calls Sen. Bill Nelson a socialist, @politifact, September 29, 2018, According to ratings by the National Journal, Nelson was given a 2013 composite score of 21% conservative and 80% liberal.WEB,weblink Bill Nelson, Sr.'s Ratings and Endorsements, votesmart.org, November 21, 2018, In 2011, he was given composite scores of 37% conservative and 64% liberal.He has a lifetime conservative rating of nearly 30% from the American Conservative Union.WEB,weblink ACU Ratings, ACU Ratings, en, June 22, 2018, June 22, 2018,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20180622220340weblink">weblink dead, Conversely, the Americans for Democratic Action gave Nelson a 90% liberal quotient for 2016.NEWS,weblink ADA Voting Records - Americans for Democratic Action, Americans for Democratic Action, June 22, 2018, en-US, In the 115th Congress, Nelson was more conservative than 93% of other congressional Democrats.NEWS,weblink Is Bill Nelson one of America's most independent senators?, @politifact, July 20, 2018, en, GovTrack, which analyzes a politician's record, places Nelson near the Senate's ideological center and GovTrack placed him among the most moderate Senators in 2017.WEB,weblink Bill Nelson, Senator for Florida - GovTrack.us, GovTrack.us, en, August 20, 2018, The only Florida Democrat in statewide office in 2017, he was described by Politico in March of that year as "a Senate indicator species...an institutional centrist." Politico wrote that the Democratic Party "is shifting left and so is he."WEB, Caputo, Marc, How Bill Nelson shook up the Gorsuch confirmation fight,weblink Politico, March 28, 2017, March 19, 2018, In July 2017, Nelson had a 53% approval rating and 25% disapproval rating, with 22% of survey respondents having no opinion on his job performance.WEB, Easley, Cameron, America's Most and Least Popular Senators,weblink Morning Consult, January 19, 2018,weblink January 18, 2018, dead, FiveThirtyEight, which tracks congressional votes, shows that Nelson had voted with President Donald Trump's positions 42.5% of the time {{as of|2018|June|lc=y}}.NEWS,weblink Tracking Congress In The Age Of Trump, Bycoffe, Aaron, January 30, 2017, FiveThirtyEight, June 22, 2018, File:161 Code Pink at Senator Nelson (39025312181).jpg|thumb|Anti-war activists protest Democratic senators who supported Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen

Economic issues

Trade

In 2005, Nelson was one of ten Democrats who voted in favor of the Dominican Republic â€“ Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) on its 55â€“45 passage in the Senate.Nichols, John. "Democrats for CAFTA". The Beat (blog at the Nation). July 5, 2005. Retrieved December 16, 2009.

Tax policy

On several occasions, Nelson has voted to reduce or eliminate the estate tax,"Bill Nelson â€“ Votes Against Party" {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091008161537weblink |date=October 8, 2009}}. Washington Post:U.S. Congress Votes Database. Retrieved December 16, 2009. notably in June 2006, when he was one of four Democrats voting for a failed (57â€“41) cloture motion on a bill to eliminate the tax.Andrews, Edmund L. "G.O.P. Fails in Attempt to Repeal Estate Tax". New York Times. June 9, 2006. Retrieved December 16, 2009.(File:Nelson Hurricane Hunter.jpg|thumb|Nelson works with government storm trackers during a hurricane-hunter flight into the center of Hurricane Charley in August 2004WEB,weblink Bill Nelson, U.S. Senator from Florida: Photo Gallery, December 27, 2006, December 27, 2006,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20061227183250weblink">weblink live, )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. 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."WEB,weblink weblink" title="archive.today/20130130185205weblink">weblink dead, January 30, 2013, Senate blocks 'Buffett rule', Omaha.com, April 17, 2012, November 20, 2013, Nelson voted in 2011 to end Bush-era tax cuts for those earning over $250,000 but voted for $143 billion in tax cuts, unemployment benefits, and other economic measures.WEB, Buzzacco-Foerster, Jenna, Carpenter, Jacob, Analysis: Comparing the votes of Bill Nelson and Connie Mack on key issues,weblink Naples Daily News, March 22, 2018, NEWS, Kane, Paul, Mui, Ylan Q., Congress passes extension of payroll tax cut,weblink The Washington Post, March 22, 2018, In 2013, Nelson advocated tax reform, which he defined as "getting rid of special interest tax breaks and corporate subsidies." Stating needed qualities of said reform, he listed "simplicity, fairness, and economic growth".WEB, Davis, James, The One Thing Congress Agrees on That Could Transform the Economy,weblink Fortune, March 22, 2018, He and Susan Collins introduced legislation in 2015 that would "make it easier for smaller businesses to cut administrative costs by forming multiple-employer 401(k)-style plans."NEWS, Miller, Mark, How to use Social Security to fix retirement inequality,weblink Reuters, May 28, 2015, March 19, 2018,

Government spending

Nelson voted for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, often referred to as economic stimulus, proposed by President Obama.NEWS, Nelson prefers campaign trail to convention, The St. Augustine Record, September 6, 2012, 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.NEWS, Analysis: Comparing the votes of Bill Nelson and Connie Mack on key issues, Jenna Buzzacco-Foerster, Naples Daily News, August 20, 2012,

Consumer affairs

In May 2013, Nelson asked the Federal Trade Commission and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to investigate why consumers who carried out a real-estate short sale were having their credit scores lowered to the same degree as those who went through foreclosure. Nelson suggested a penalty if the issue was not addressed within ninety days.WEB, Harney, Kenneth R.,weblink Short sales routinely show up in credit reports as foreclosures, Los Angeles Times, May 17, 2013, November 20, 2013, Nelson was frequently interested in product safety issues, and as such was frequently engaged in oversight and criticism of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. For example, he repeatedly opposed President Donald Trump's nominee to lead the commission.WEB,weblink Trump Renominates Buerkle to Lead CPSC: Third Time's a Charm?, January 22, 2019, Retail & Consumer Products Law Observer, en-US, August 31, 2019,

Flood insurance

Nelson voted in favor of the Biggertâ€“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 to better reflect true flood risk costs and keep the program solvent.WEB, Biggertâ€“Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act,weblink FloodSmart.gov, April 1, 2014,weblink March 13, 2014, dead, WEB,weblink Premiums rising for national flood program, though Florida pales in payouts, Tampa Publishing, Company, Tampa Bay Times, In 2014, following an outcry by Florida property owners facing steep flood insurance-rate hikes,NEWS, Gordon, Greg, Public outcry prompts delay in federal flood insurance rate hikes,weblink October 10, 2015, Miami Herald, January 14, 2014, Nelson supported legislation that would provide retroactive refunds for taxpayers who had experienced large hikes in their flood-insurance rates due to the sale or purchase of a home. The proposal would also cap average annual premium increases at 15 to 18 percent and allow insurance-rates subsidies based on current flood maps.NEWS, Simpson, Andrew, House Passes Flood Insurance Bill; Key Senators Sign On,weblink April 1, 2014, Insurance Journal, March 4, 2014,

Earmarks

In 2010, PolitiFact found that Nelson had flip-flopped on the issue of earmarks, pushing for a moratorium on the practice after saying that "earmarks were an important part of creating jobs and growing Florida's economy."NEWS, Sharockman, Aaron, Bill Nelson talks one way on earmarks, but votes another,weblink September 29, 2018, PolitiFact, December 1, 2010,

Terrorism

In September 2014, Nelson said the U.S. should hit back at ISIS immediately because "the U.S. is the only one that can put together a coalition to stop this group that's intent on barbaric cruelty."WEB, Lengell, Sean, Bill Nelson: U.S. the 'only one' who can stop ISIS,weblink The Washington Examiner, September 2, 2014, March 10, 2018, He supported the "Denying Firearms and Explosives to Dangerous Terrorists Act." Introduced in 2013 and again in 2015, it would keep guns from people with suspected terrorist links.MAGAZINE, SWEETLAND EDWARDS, HALEY, Orlando Shooting May Revive Effort to Keep Guns From Suspected Terrorists,weblink Time, March 19, 2018, Standing outside the Orlando Pulse nightclub immediately after the June 2016 massacre there, Nelson called Omar Mateen a "lone wolf," and when asked if it was an act of jihad he said he could not confirm that.WEB, Goldhill, Olivia, The Orlando shooting is the deadliest in US history. Here's what we know,weblink Quartz, June 12, 2016, March 21, 2018, Shortly afterwards, citing intelligence sources, Nelson said there was apparently "a link to Islamic radicalism," perhaps ISIS.WEB, MCCASKILL, NOLAN D., EAST, KRISTEN, Orlando massacre: Shock and horror,weblink Politico, June 12, 2016, March 17, 2018, WEB, Hayes, Christal, Tziperman Lotan, Gal, Cherney, Elyssa, Miller, Naseem S., Lemongello, Steven, Rodgers, Bethany, Orlando shooting victims remembered in vigils across city, nation and world,weblink Orlando Sentinel, June 13, 2016, March 20, 2018, Nelson later said on the Senate floor that "terrorists...want to divide people" but that Mateen had instead "brought people together.WEB, Bustos, Sergio, Nelson, Rubio recount Pulse nightclub attack, outpouring of unity in Orlando,weblink Politico, June 12, 2017, 21 March 2018, Following the massacre, Nelson and Barbara Mikulski supported an increase in FBI funding.WEB, Kim, Seung Min, Nussbaum, Matthew, Senate Dems push to add money for FBI counter-terror efforts,weblink Politico, June 15, 2016, 21 March 2018, A year after the Orlando massacre, Nelson attended a memorial at which he reiterated that it had "united Orlando and it united the country."WEB, One Year Later, Central Florida Remembers Pulse Nightclub Tragedy,weblink WUFT Florida, June 12, 2017, March 19, 2018, He supported the Terrorist Firearms Prevention Act of 2016.WEB, Bergenruen, Vera, Henney, Megan, Could this be the gun bill that has a chance?,weblink McClatchy, March 21, 2018, In August 2017, the Miami Herald urged Nelson to back Lindsey Graham's Taylor Force Act, which would block U.S. subsidies to the Palestinian Authority, which gives monetary assistance to "Palestinian prisoners, former prisoners and families of 'martyrs.'" Nelson did vote for the bill, which passed overwhelmingly.WEB, Jacobs, Phil, Booker Casts Vote Against Taylor Force Act,weblink Jewish Link of New Jersey, March 21, 2018,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20170821063835weblink">weblink August 21, 2017, dead,

Health care

In March 2010, Nelson voted for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act,WEB, H.R. 3590 (111th): Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act,weblink govtrack.us, March 21, 2018, also known as Obamacare, and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010,WEB, H.R. 4872 (111th): Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010,weblink govtrack.us, March 21, 2018, which passed and were signed into law by President Obama.Nelson called in 2014 for the expansion of Medicaid.WEB, Nelson, Bill, Bill Nelson: Expanding Medicaid good for Florida's health, economy,weblink Tampa Bay Times, March 21, 2018, In 2016, he called the House Zika bill "a disaster," complaining that it would take "$500 million in health care funding away from Puerto Rico" and limit access to "birth control services needed to help curb the spread of the virus and prevent terrible birth defects."WEB, King, Ledyard, Kelly, Erin, Sen. Bill Nelson calls House Zika bill 'disaster',weblink Tallahassee Democrat, March 22, 2018, In 2017 Nelson wrote a letter to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) asking them to prioritize Zika prevention.NEWS,weblink Sen. Nelson asks CDC to prioritize Zika prevention measures, October 17, 2017, Homeland Preparedness News, November 7, 2017, en-US, In September 2017, Nelson and Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced the Reinsurance Act of 2017, an effort "to stabilize the health insurance marketplace." It would provide $2.25 billion to "reduce risk for insurance companies by providing funds to insurers for high-risk enrollees" and "help keep premiums in check."WEB, Lawlor, Joe, Sen. Collins teams up with Florida Democrat on bill to shore up ACA,weblink The Portland Press Herald, September 19, 2017, March 22, 2018,

Immigration

In January 2017, Nelson wrote President Trump a letter protesting his immigration order. "Regardless of the constitutionality or legality of this Executive Order," he wrote, "I am deeply concerned that it may do more harm than good in our fight to keep America safe." U.S. success in the fight against terrorism, he argued, "depends on the cooperation and assistance of Muslims who reject radicalism and violence. Whether intended or not, this Executive Order risks alienating the very people we rely upon in the fight against terror."WEB, Sherman, Amy, Sen. Bill Nelson writes Trump letter protesting immigration order,weblink Miami Herald, March 22, 2018,

Space exploration and NASA

File:President Obama Visits Kennedy Space Center.jpg|thumb|President Barack Obama Barack ObamaFile:Transition Authorization Act Signing.jpg|thumb|Nelson looks on as President Donald Trump Donald TrumpIn March 2010, Nelson complained that President Obama had made a mistake in canceling NASA's Constellation program.WEB, Kremer, Ken, Obama Made Mistake Cancelling NASAs Constellation, March 21, 2010,weblink Universe Today, February 10, 2012, He argued against the $6-billion Commercial Crew Development proposed by the presidential administration and for a NASA-developed heavy-lift rocket built on Constellation's inheritance (which was later included in the 2010 NASA Authorization Act and became SLS).WEB,weblink Sen. Nelson Floats Alternate Use for NASA Commercial Crew Money, March 20, 2010, SpaceNews, 11 years later, Charles Bolden (NASA administrator in 2010) commented that Nelson's skepticism was common in Congress at the time and refused to call him an opponent of commercial crew.WEB,weblink Biden Picks Bill Nelson as Next NASA Administrator, 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.WEB, Parkinson, Tom, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson Says Congress 'Starved' NASA of Funding,weblink WMFE, February 10, 2012, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20100210132112weblink">weblink February 10, 2010, In September 2011 Nelson, together with Republican Kay Hutchison, led the push to continue the development of Constellation's Ares V SLV in the form of Space Launch System.WEB,weblink NASA Commits To Building Mandated Heavy-lift Rocket, September 19, 2011, SpaceNews, NEWS,weblink SLS: The rocket in need of a destination, BBC News, September 14, 2011, In 2016, Sen. Nelson brokered a bipartisan compromise on ending import of Russian RD-180 rocket engines.WEB,weblink Senate Reaches Agreement on Russian RD-180 Engines, In 2017 and 2018, Nelson sought to prevent Jim Bridenstine, President Trump's nominee to head NASA, from being confirmed in the Senate.NEWS,weblink Senate advances Bridenstine to lead NASA, POLITICO, April 19, 2018, Bridenstine had no formal qualifications in science or engineering, and denied the scientific consensus on climate change. Bridenstine was ultimately confirmed.NEWS, Chang, Kenneth, Trump's NASA Nominee, Jim Bridenstine, Confirmed by Senate on Party-Line Vote,weblink April 26, 2018, The New York Times, April 19, 2018, During his own confirmation hearing in 2021, Nelson reversed his earlier stances on the Commercial Crew Program and desirability of a NASA administrator without STEM education, and praised Bridenstine (the latter endorsed him earlier).WEB,weblink Bill Nelson is a born-again supporter of commercial space at NASA, Alexandra, Oliveira, April 25, 2021, The Hill, In June 2021, Nelson told CNN Business' Rachel Crane about the future of U.S.-Russian cooperation in the International Space Station (ISS): "For decades, upwards now of 45 plus years [we've cooperated with] Russians in space, and I want that cooperation to continue. Your politics can be hitting heads on Earth, while you are cooperating" in space.NEWS, NASA chief says Russia leaving ISS could kick off a space race,weblink CNN, June 4, 2021,

LGBT rights

On December 18, 2010, Nelson voted in favor of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010,WEB,weblink Motion to Concur in the House Amendment to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 2965, U.S. Senate, December 18, 2010, April 1, 2012, NEWS,weblink Senate Vote 281 â€“ Repeals 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell', The New York Times, December 18, 2010, April 1, 2012, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20151027055830weblink">weblink October 27, 2015, which established a legal process for ending the policy that prevented gay and lesbian people from serving openly in the United States Armed Forces.On April 4, 2013, Nelson announced that he no longer opposed 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."WEB, Florida Senator Bill Nelson no longer opposes gay marriage,weblink CFN13, April 4, 2013,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20130407160106weblink">weblink April 7, 2013, dead,

Foreign policy

Iraq War

Nelson voted for the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 authorizing military action against Iraq.WEB,weblink H.J.Res. 114 (107th): Authorization for Use of Military Force Against ... -- Senate Vote #237 -- Oct 11, 2002, GovTrack.us, en, July 24, 2018,

Iran

In July 2017, Nelson voted in favor of the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act that placed sanctions on Iran together with Russia and North Korea.WEB,weblink U.S. Senate: U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 115th Congress - 1st Session, www.senate.gov, July 27, 2017,

Israel

In September 2016, in advance of a UN Security Council resolution 2334 condemning Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, Nelson signed an AIPAC-sponsored letter urging President Barack Obama to veto "one-sided" resolutions against Israel.NEWS, Senate â€“ Aipac,weblink September 19, 2016,weblink October 19, 2016, In March 2017, Nelson co-sponsored the Israel Anti-Boycott Act, Senate Bill 720, which permits U.S. states to enact laws that would require contractors to sign a pledge saying that they would not boycott any goods from Israel, or their contracts would be terminatedWEB,weblink Cosponsors - S.720 - 115th Congress (2017-2018): Israel Anti-Boycott Act, March 23, 2017, www.congress.gov, In December 2017, Nelson supported President Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital.NEWS, Florida reaction to Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as capital of Israel,weblink Tampa Bay Times, December 6, 2017,

Venezuela

In April 2017, Nelson called for tougher economic sanctions against Venezuela, which he called an "economic basket case."WEB, Harris, Alex, Senator Bill Nelson wants tougher sanctions against 'economic basket case' Venezuela,weblink Miami Herald, March 22, 2018,

Cuba

He opposed a 2009 spending bill until his concerns about certain provisions in the bill related to Cuba were assuaged by Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, who assured him that those provisions "would not amount to a major reversal of the decades-old U.S. policy of isolating the communist-run island."NEWS, Pelofsky, Jeremy, Cornwell, Susan, US Senate nears passage of $410 bln spending bill,weblink Reuters, March 10, 2009, March 23, 2018,

Syria visit

In 2006, Nelson met with Syrian President Bashar Assad in Damascus at the recommendation of the bipartisan Iraq Study Group to try to improve US-Syria relations and help stabilize Iraq.NEWS,weblink Defying Bush, Senator Visits Syria, Wright, Robin, The Washington Post, December 14, 2006, September 29, 2018, en-US, 0190-8286,weblink Aug 29, 2008, live, He did this despite the United States Department of State and the White House saying they disapproved of the trip.NEWS, Plummer Flaherty, Anne, washingtonpost.com > Nation > Wires Fla. Senator Defies Bush, Visits Syria,weblink September 29, 2018, The Washington Post, December 13, 2006,weblink November 11, 2014, live, NEWS, Stolberg, Sheryl Gay, White House Upset by Senator's Trip to Syria,weblink September 29, 2018, The New York Times, December 15, 2006,weblink Dec 20, 2006, live,

Russia

Following the destruction of Kosmos 1408 in an anti-satellite weapons test by Russia, Nelson stated that "With its long and storied history in human spaceflight, it is unthinkable that Russia would endanger not only the American and international partner astronauts on the ISS, but also their own cosmonauts", and the "actions are reckless and dangerous, threatening as well the Chinese space station".WEB, US says it 'won't tolerate' Russia's 'reckless and dangerous' anti-satellite missile test,weblink live, CNN, November 15, 2021,weblink November 15, 2021,

Gun control

In 2012, the National Rifle Association of America (NRA) gave Nelson an "F" rating for his support of gun control.WEB, This November Bill Nelson Need to go,weblink NRA-ILA, National Rifle Association of America, October 4, 2017, en-us,weblink August 7, 2017, dead, Nelson is an advocate for new gun control laws, including an assault weapons ban, a ban on magazines over ten rounds, and a proposal that would require individuals buying guns at gun shows to have background checks.WEB, Vaughn, George,weblink Response from U.S. Senator (FL) Bill Nelson RE: Gun Control, Tea Party Nation, January 23, 2013, November 20, 2013, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20150610230231weblink">weblink June 10, 2015, WEB, Bell, Lisa, Sheriff Jerry Demings, Sen. Bill Nelson call for tougher gun laws,weblink WKMG, October 4, 2017, January 15, 2013, October 4, 2017,weblink dead, In response to the 2016 Orlando nightclub shooting, Nelson expressed remorse that the Democrats' Feinstein Amendment, which would have banned the sale of guns to individuals on the terrorist watch list, and a Republican proposal to update background checks and to create an alert for law enforcement when an individual is placed on the terrorist watch list, had failed to pass the Senate. He stated "What am I going to tell the community of Orlando that is trying to come together in the healing? Sadly, what I am going to have to tell them is that the NRA won again."WEB, Griffin, Larry, Bill Nelson on gun control laws: 'The NRA won again' - Florida Politics,weblink floridapolitics.com, June 21, 2016, October 4, 2017, Both he and Marco Rubio supported the bills.WEB, Leary, Alex, Sens. Marco Rubio and Bill Nelson vote party line on gun bills,weblink Tampa Bay Times, October 4, 2017, en-us, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20171004190146weblink">weblink October 4, 2017, In October 2017, after the Las Vegas shooting, Nelson and Dianne Feinstein sponsored a bill to ban bump stocks for assault weapons. "I'm a hunter and have owned guns my whole life," he said. "But these automatic weapons are not for hunting, they are for killing."WEB, Powers, Scott, Bill Nelson sponsors bill to ban bump stocks for assault weapons,weblink Florida Politics, March 22, 2018, October 4, 2017, Nelson spread misinformation via Twitter after the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, falsely claiming that shooter Nikolas Cruz wore a gas mask and tossed smoke grenades as he shot people. After an April 2018 shooting in Liberty City, Nelson claimed that assault weapons had been used in the shooting, when in fact handguns were used.NEWS, Daugherty, Alex, Smiley, David, Bill Nelson spreads wrong information after shootings in Liberty City, Parkland,weblink August 28, 2018, Tampa Bay Times, April 9, 2018, NEWS, Stapleton, Christine, Nelson's false tweets catch attention of social media watchdogs,weblink August 28, 2018, Sarasota Herald Tribune, August 24, 2018,

Student loans

In July 2017, Nelson introduced legislation to cut interest rates on student loans to 4 percent.WEB, Bakeman, Jessica, Graduate with $115K in debt challenges Nelson on his 'practical' approach to federal student loan reform,weblink Politico, July 14, 2017, March 22, 2018,

Environment

Nelson and Mel Martinez co-sponsored a 2006 bill banning oil drilling off Florida's Gulf Coast. In 2017 he said he wanted the ban to continue to 2027, but that it was "vigorously opposed by the oil industry." Along with 16 Florida congress members from both parties, he urged the Trump administration to keep the eastern Gulf of Mexico off limits to oil and gas drilling. "Drilling in this area," they wrote, "threatens Florida's multibillion-dollar tourism-driven economy and is incompatible with the military training and weapons testing that occurs there."WEB, Perry, Mitch, At Senate Commerce hearing in St. Pete, Bill Nelson vows to keep oil drilling moratorium,weblink Florida Politics, August 11, 2017, March 23, 2018, WEB, Ritchie, Bruce, Nelson, congressional members urge Trump administration against oil drilling off Florida,weblink Politico, March 24, 2017, March 23, 2018, WEB, Owens, Paul, Signs of hope in re-emerging bipartisan consensus on environment,weblink Orlando Sentinel, March 31, 2017, March 22, 2018, In 2011, Nelson co-sponsored the RESTORE Act, which directed money from BP fines to states affected by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.NEWS, Sherman, Amy, Marco Rubio says oil spill fine money could go to Great Lakes and West Coast,weblink March 12, 2018, Tampa Bay Times, PolitiFact Florida, March 22, 2012, 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.WEB, CBO â€“ S. 1254, May 23, 2014,weblink Congressional Budget Office, June 9, 2014, NEWS, Marcos, Cristina, This week: Lawmakers to debate appropriations, VA, student loans,weblink June 10, 2014, The Hill, June 9, 2014, In 2015, after Gov. Rick Scott directed Florida officials to stop using the terms "climate change" and "global warming," Nelson introduced an amendment to prevent federal agencies from censoring official communications on climate change. It "fell to a point of order after a 51-49 vote, though Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) joined Nelson in supporting the amendment."WEB, BUDGET RESOLUTIONS SET STAGE FOR APPROPRIATIONS; FARM BILL RE-OPENING STILL A POSSIBILITY,weblink National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, March 27, 2015, March 23, 2018, WEB, Depra, Dianne, Senator Bill Nelson Speaks Out Against Government Employee Ban On Climate Change,weblink Tech Times, March 28, 2015, March 23, 2018,

Hurricanes

After Hurricane Maria in 2017, Nelson and Marco Rubio agreed that Trump had taken too long to send the U.S. military to Puerto Rico to take part in relief efforts. "For one week we were slow at the switch," Nelson said in San Juan. "The most efficient organization in a time of disaster is an organization that is already capable of long supply lines in combat. And that's the U.S. military."WEB, PADGETT, TIM, Senator Bill Nelson Criticizes Slow U.S. Response In Puerto Rico; Praises Military Effort,weblink WLRN, October 16, 2017, March 23, 2018, After Hurricane Maria led many Puerto Ricans to flee to Florida, Nelson encouraged them to register to vote there.WEB, MAZZEI, PATRICIA, Sen. Nelson wants Puerto Ricans newly arrived in Florida to register to vote,weblink Miami Herald, March 23, 2018, Nelson was criticized for sending campaign fundraising emails in the wake of Hurricane Irma.NEWS, Leary, Alex, GOP: Bill Nelson fundraising email a 'new level of tone deaf',weblink April 27, 2018, Tampa Bay Times, September 28, 2017, NEWS, Dixon, Matt, NRSC thumps Nelson over Hurricane Irma fundraising email,weblink April 27, 2018, Politico PRO, Politico, September 28, 2017, NEWS, Schorsch, Peter, Bill Nelson fundraises off Irma again, Republicans say it's 'disgusting',weblink April 27, 2018, Florida Politics, October 12, 2017,

Supreme Court

Nelson opposed and filibustered the nomination of Neil Gorsuch for the Supreme Court.WEB, Leary, Alex, Right and left pressure Florida Sen. Bill Nelson over Supreme Court nominee decision,weblink Tampa Bay Times, March 23, 2018, WEB, Caputo, Marc, How Bill Nelson shook up the Gorsuch confirmation fight,weblink Politico, March 28, 2017, March 23, 2018,

Security and surveillance

In 2007, Nelson was the only Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee to vote against an amendment to withhold funds for the use by the CIA of torture on terrorism suspects. His vote, combined with those of all Republican members of the committee, killed the measure.Shane, Scott. "Senate Panel Questions C.I.A. Detentions". New York Times. June 1, 2007. Retrieved December 16, 2009.In January 2018, Nelson voted to reauthorize the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which allows the National Security Agency to extend a program of warrantless spying on internet and phone networks.NEWS, Ianelli, Jerry, Florida's Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson Votes to Extend Trump's NSA Spying Powers,weblink January 19, 2018, Miami New Times, January 18, 2018, In 2015, he had called for a permanent extension of the law.NEWS, Perry, Mitch, Bill Nelson calls for permanent extension of Section 702 of FISA Amendment Act,weblink January 19, 2018, Florida Politics, November 30, 2015,

Controversies

Campaign donations from Saudi Arabia

Nelson received campaign contributions from Saudi Arabia's lobbyists.NEWS, Report Says Saudi-hired Lobbyists Give Millions to Influence US Congress,weblink VOA News, October 30, 2018, In June 2017, Nelson voted to support Trump's $110 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia.NEWS, Carney, Jordain, Senate rejects effort to block Saudi arms sale,weblink The Hill, June 13, 2017, In March 2018, Nelson voted against Bernie Sanders' and Chris Murphy's bill to end U.S. support for the Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen.NEWS, Sen. Bill Nelson Votes to Continue Helping Saudi Arabia Kill Yemeni Citizens,weblink Miami News Times, March 21, 2018,

Russian hack claim

On August 7, 2018, Nelson claimed that Russian operatives had penetrated some of Florida's election systems ahead of the 2018 midterm elections; the claim was contentious during his 2018 re-election bid.NEWS,weblink Florida election officials seek info as support builds for Bill Nelson's Russian-hack claim, Tampa Bay Times, August 29, 2018, en-US, He stated that more detailed information was classified.NEWS, Leary, Alex, Bousquet, Steve, Wilson, Kirby,weblink Bill Nelson: The Russians have penetrated some Florida voter registration systems, Tampa Bay Times, August 8, 2018, August 8, 2018, At the time, fact-checkers did not have evidence to backup Nelson's claims.NEWS,weblink Analysis {{!, Has Russia hacked into Florida's election system? There is no evidence.|newspaper=Washington Post|language=en|access-date=August 27, 2018}}NEWS,weblink Fact-checking Sen. Bill Nelson's claims about Russia hacking Florida's election system, Sherman, Amy, August 22, 2018, August 28, 2018, PolitiFact, However, later that August, "three people familiar with the intelligence" told NBC News "that there is a classified basis for Nelson's assertion", because "VR Systems had been penetrated in August 2016 by hackers working for" GRU.NEWS,weblink Did Russians really penetrate Florida's election systems? Maybe, NBC News, August 27, 2018, en-US, A government official familiar with the intelligence told McClatchy that Russian hackers had penetrated some of Florida's county voting systems in 2016. DHS spokesperson Sarah Sendek said that the agency has "not seen any new compromises by Russian actors of election infrastructure." The Tampa Bay Times reported that Nelson had been told by leaders of the Senate Intelligence Committee of a penetration of some of Florida's voter registration databases in 2016.Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen and FBI director Christopher Wray denied Nelson's claims in a letter to Florida election officials.NEWS,weblink Homeland Security, FBI say Florida election system has not been hacked, Rohrer, Gray, August 21, 2018, August 28, 2018, Orlando Sentinel, Amid the criticism, Nelson defended his assertions about Russian penetration, saying he and fellow Florida Senator Marco Rubio had been instructed by Mark Warner and Richard Burr, leaders of the Senate Intelligence Committee, to warn the Florida secretary of state about Russian interference.NEWS,weblink Senate Intel leaders asked only Florida senators to send letter on Russia hacking threats, Herb, Jeremy, CNN, August 29, 2018, Warner and Burr neither confirmed nor denied Nelson's claim that Florida's systems had been penetrated, while Rubio "has taken a line on the controversy similar to Burr and Warner's." The Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust, a conservative watchdog group, filed an ethics complaint against Nelson, saying that he "discussed classified information or made it up."NEWS,weblink Group files ethics complaint against Bill Nelson over Russia hacking claim, Leary, Alex, August 23, 2018, August 28, 2018, Tampa Bay Times, Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation on Russian interference in the 2016 election, which concluded in April 2019, found that Russian intelligence officials "sent spearphishing emails to over 120 email accounts used by Florida county officials responsible for administering the 2016 U.S. election," and that "at least one Florida county" was successfully penetrated.WEB,weblink Rubio knew about election hacking but was restricted in what he could say in Nelson's defense, Lemongello, Steven, orlandosentinel.com, May 6, 2019, May 7, 2019, In August 2018, federal authorities said they saw no signs of any "new or ongoing compromises" of state or local election systems.NEWS, Russian meddling comments weigh on US Sen. Nelson's campaign,weblink Associated Press, August 26, 2018, In May 2019, Governor Ron DeSantis said that voter databases in two counties had been successfully penetrated ahead of the 2016 presidential election.WEB,weblink DeSantis: Russians accessed 2 Florida voting databases, Farrington, Brendan, May 14, 2019, AP NEWS, May 14, 2019,

Personal life

In 1972, Nelson married Grace Cavert. The couple has two adult children: Charles William "Bill Jr." Nelson and Nan Ellen Nelson.

Electoral history

{{Election box begin |title=Florida State House of Representatives election 1972Lawrence, D.G., "Democrats keep control of state legislature" Orlando Sentinel. 1972-11-08.}}{{Election box winning candidate with party link