Bill Nelson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bill Nelson
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| United States Senator from Florida |
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| In office January 3, 2001 – January 3, 2019 |
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| Preceded by | Connie Mack III |
| Succeeded by | Rick Scott |
| Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Committee |
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| In office January 3, 2015 – January 3, 2019 |
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| Preceded by | John Thune |
| Succeeded by | Maria Cantwell |
| Chair of the Senate Aging Committee | |
| In office January 3, 2013 – January 3, 2015 |
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| Preceded by | Herb Kohl |
| Succeeded by | Susan Collins |
| Treasurer, Insurance Commissioner, and Fire Marshal of Florida | |
| In office January 3, 1995 – January 3, 2001 |
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| Governor | Lawton Chiles Buddy MacKay Jeb Bush |
| Preceded by | Tom Gallagher |
| Succeeded by | Tom Gallagher |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida |
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| In office January 3, 1979 – January 3, 1991 |
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| Preceded by | Louis Frey Jr. (9th) Dan Mica (11th) |
| Succeeded by | Michael Bilirakis (9th) Jim Bacchus (11th) |
| Constituency | 9th district (1979–1983) 11th district (1983–1991) |
| Member of the Florida House of Representatives from the 47th district |
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| In office November 7, 1972 – November 7, 1978 |
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| Preceded by | Redistricted |
| Succeeded by | Tim Deratany |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Clarence William Nelson II
September 29, 1942 Miami, Florida, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) |
Grace Cavert (m. 1972)
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| Children | 2 |
| Education | University of Florida Yale University (BA) University of Virginia (JD) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1965–1968, 1970–1971 (Reserve) 1968–1970 (Active) |
| Rank |  Captain |
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| Space career | |
| NASA payload specialist | |
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Time in space
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6d 02h 03m |
| Missions | STS-61-C |
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Mission insignia
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Clarence William "Bill" Nelson II (born September 29, 1942) is an American politician and a member of the Democratic Party. He was the United States Senator from Florida from 2001 to 2019.
Contents
Early life
Nelson was born in Miami, Florida. He was raised in Melbourne, Florida. Nelson studied at the University of Florida, Yale University and at the University of Virginia.
Career
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 along with John Glenn. He flew as a Payload Specialist on the Space Shuttle Columbia.
He served in the United States Senate, serving Florida since 2001 to 2019.
Nelson lost re-election in 2018 to Republican Rick Scott by 0.1%
Personal life
In 1972, Nelson married Grace Cavert. The couple have two adult children: Charles William "Bill Jr." Nelson, and Nan Ellen Nelson. He has suffered from prostate cancer.
Images for kids
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Nelson in 1972 as a Florida State Representative
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Governor Jeb Bush and Nelson in 1999
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Nelson with Vice President Joe Biden and Rep. Alcee Hastings in Miami-Dade County, Florida
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Anti-war activists protest Democratic senators who supported Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen, December 2017
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Nelson works with government storm trackers during a hurricane-hunter flight into the center of Hurricane Charley in August 2004
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President Barack Obama and Nelson visit Kennedy Space Center in April 2010
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