Committee chairmanships

Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Committee
In office January 3, 2015 – January 3, 2019
Preceded by	John Thune
Succeeded by	Maria Cantwell
Chair of the Senate Aging Committee
In office January 3, 2013 – January 3, 2015
Preceded by	Herb Kohl
Succeeded by	Susan Collins

22nd Treasurer of Florida

In office
January 3, 1995 – January 3, 2001

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

In office
January 3, 1979 – January 3, 1991

Preceded by

Louis Frey Jr.

Succeeded by

Jim Bacchus

Constituency

9th district (1979–1983)
11th district (1983–1991)

Member of the Florida House of Representatives
from the 47th district

In office
November 7, 1972 – November 7, 1978

Preceded by

Redistricted

Succeeded by

Tim Deratany

Personal details

Born

Clarence William Nelson II

September 29, 1942 (age 82)
Miami, Florida, U.S.

Political party

Democratic

Spouse

Grace Cavert

(m. 1972)

Children

Education

Military service

Branch/service

United States Army

Years of service

1965–1968, 1970–1971 (reserve)
1968–1970 (active)

Rank

Captain

Space career

NASA payload specialist
(congressional observer)

Time in space

6 days, 2 hours, 3 minutes

Missions

STS-61-C

Mission insignia

Bill Nelson (born September 29, 1942) is an American politician, lawyer, and former astronaut. From 2001 to 2019, he served as a U.S. Senator for Florida. Since 2021, he has been the head of NASA, the U.S. space agency.

Nelson is a member of the Democratic Party. Before becoming a senator, he was a U.S. Representative for Florida from 1979 to 1991. He also served in the Florida House of Representatives from 1972 to 1978. In January 1986, Nelson made history as the second sitting member of Congress to fly into space. He was a payload specialist on the Space Shuttle Columbia mission STS-61-C. Before his political career, he served in the United States Army Reserve during the Vietnam War.

After leaving Congress in 1990, Nelson ran for governor of Florida but was not successful. He was later elected as Florida's Treasurer, Insurance Commissioner, and Fire Marshal, serving from 1995 to 2001. In 2000, Nelson was elected to the U.S. Senate. He was reelected in 2006 and 2012. In 2018, he ran for a fourth term but lost to Rick Scott. In May 2019, Nelson joined NASA's advisory council.

In the U.S. Senate, Nelson was known as a moderate Democrat. He supported same-sex marriage and lowering taxes for middle-income families. He also worked to expand environmental programs and protect the Affordable Care Act. On March 19, 2021, President Joe Biden chose Nelson to be the Administrator of NASA. The Senate confirmed him, and he was sworn in on May 3.

Early Life and Education

Nelson was born on September 29, 1942, in Miami, Florida. He was the only child of Nannie Merle and Clarence William Nelson. His father passed away when Bill was 14, and his mother when he was 24.

He grew up in Melbourne, Florida, and went to Melbourne High School. Nelson attended University of Florida before transferring to Yale University. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale in 1965. In 1968, he received a law degree from the University of Virginia.

During the Vietnam War, Nelson joined the United States Army Reserve in 1965. He served actively from 1968 to 1970, reaching the rank of captain. He left the Army in 1971. In 1968, he became a lawyer in Florida.

Space Shuttle Columbia Flight

In 1986, Bill Nelson became the second member of Congress to travel to space. He trained with Senator Jake Garn, who flew in 1985. Nelson served as a payload specialist on the Space Shuttle Columbia mission STS-61-C. The mission lasted from January 12 to 18, 1986.

The pilot for this mission was Charles Bolden, who later also became a NASA Administrator. This flight was the last successful Space Shuttle mission before the Challenger accident. That tragedy happened just ten days after Nelson's mission ended. In 1988, Nelson wrote a book about his space journey called Mission: An American Congressman's Voyage to Space.

Early Political Career

Florida Legislature

Nelson in 1972 as a Florida State Representative

In 1972, Nelson was elected to the Florida House of Representatives. He represented parts of Brevard, Orange, and Seminole counties. He was reelected in 1974 and 1976.

U.S. House of Representatives

Nelson was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1978. He represented Florida's 9th congressional district. His district included Cape Canaveral and its space facility. He was reelected several times and served in the House until 1991.

As a U.S. Representative, Nelson led the House Space Subcommittee for six years. He was a key member of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology.

Florida Treasurer

Governor Jeb Bush and Nelson in 1999

In 1994, Nelson ran for the office of Treasurer, Insurance Commissioner, and Fire Marshal of Florida. He won the election with 52% of the votes. He was reelected in 1998.

In 2000, Nelson decided to run for a seat in the United States Senate. Florida law required him to resign from his Treasurer position to campaign. His resignation became official on January 3, 2001.

United States Senate

Elections

2000 Election

Nelson's official Senate portrait (2000)

NASA photo (c. 1986)

In 2000, Nelson ran for the U.S. Senate as a Democrat. He won the election, defeating Bill McCollum, the Republican candidate.

2006 Election

After the 2004 election, many thought Nelson might lose his seat. He was a Democrat in a state that had voted for a Republican president. However, Nelson focused on being a moderate and working with both parties. He won the election with 60% of the votes. He won in 57 of Florida's 67 counties.

2012 Election

Nelson with Vice President Joe Biden and Rep. Alcee Hastings in Miami-Dade County, Florida (2012)

In 2012, Nelson ran for reelection. He defeated Connie Mack IV, the Republican candidate, with 55.2% of the votes.

2018 Election

Nelson ran for reelection in 2018. He faced Florida Governor Rick Scott, a Republican. The election was very close, with less than 0.25% difference in votes. A recount showed that Rick Scott had won by a small margin.

Committee Work

During his time in the Senate, Bill Nelson served on several important committees. These included:

The Committee on Armed Services, which deals with military matters.
The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, where he focused on space and science. He even chaired the Subcommittee on Science and Space.
The Special Committee on Aging, which he chaired for a time. This committee looks at issues affecting older Americans.

Post-Senate Activities

On May 28, 2019, Nelson was appointed to NASA's advisory council. This council gives advice on major programs and policies for the space agency. NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine praised Nelson's appointment. He said Nelson was a "true champion for human spaceflight."

Nelson also supported Joe Biden for President in the 2020 election.

NASA Administrator

Nelson is sworn in as the 14th NASA administrator by Vice President Kamala Harris

Nomination and Swearing-In

In February 2021, reports suggested that President Biden was thinking of nominating Nelson to lead NASA. On March 18, it was confirmed that Biden had chosen him. The next day, Biden officially announced his decision. Nelson's nomination was widely supported by members of Congress from both political parties.

On April 29, the Senate approved Nelson's nomination. Vice President Kamala Harris swore him in as the 14th NASA Administrator on May 3.

Time as Administrator

As NASA Administrator, Nelson has overseen many important space missions and projects:

The launch and deployment of the James Webb Space Telescope, which is helping scientists learn more about the universe.
The Artemis 1 mission, a major step toward sending humans back to the Moon.
The DART mission, which successfully crashed a spacecraft into an asteroid to test planetary defense.

Nelson has also supported working with private aerospace companies. He believes that competition helps get things done more cheaply. He strongly supports the Artemis program, which aims to return astronauts to the Moon.

Political Positions

Bill Nelson was often seen as a moderate Democrat. He described himself as a centrist during his campaigns. He was known for trying to find common ground between political parties.

Economic Issues

Tax Policy: Nelson supported lowering taxes for lower and middle-income families. He voted against extending tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. He also supported the Buffett Rule, which would raise the minimum tax rate for people earning over $1 million per year.
Government Spending: Nelson voted for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which was a plan to boost the economy. He also voted to increase the national debt ceiling to avoid financial problems.
Consumer Affairs: Nelson was interested in protecting consumers. He often looked into issues like product safety and how financial actions affect credit scores.
Flood Insurance: He supported changes to flood insurance laws to make rates fairer for homeowners, especially in Florida.

Terrorism

In 2014, Nelson said the U.S. should act quickly against ISIS. He believed the U.S. was the only country that could build a team to stop the group. He also supported laws to prevent people with suspected terrorist links from buying firearms.

After the Orlando nightclub shooting in 2016, Nelson spoke about the tragedy. He emphasized that terrorists want to divide people, but the event instead brought people together. He also supported increasing funding for the FBI.

Health Care

In 2010, Nelson voted for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. He also called for expanding Medicaid, a program that helps provide health care to low-income individuals. In 2017, he worked with another senator to introduce a bill to help stabilize the health insurance market.

Immigration

In 2017, Nelson wrote a letter to President Trump about an immigration order. He was concerned it might harm efforts to keep America safe by alienating people who could help fight terrorism.

Space Exploration and NASA

President Barack Obama and Nelson visit Kennedy Space Center in April 2010

Nelson looks on as President Donald Trump signs the NASA Transition Authorization Act of 2017

Nelson has always been a strong supporter of space exploration. In 2010, he expressed concerns about canceling NASA's Constellation program. He pushed for a NASA-developed heavy-lift rocket, which later became the Space Launch System (SLS).

In 2016, Nelson helped create a deal to end the import of Russian rocket engines. When he became NASA Administrator, he changed some of his earlier views. He praised the use of commercial companies in space and supported his predecessor, Jim Bridenstine. Nelson believes that cooperation in space, like with Russia on the International Space Station, should continue even if there are political disagreements on Earth.

LGBT Rights

In 2010, Nelson voted to end the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. This policy had prevented gay and lesbian people from serving openly in the U.S. military. In 2013, Nelson announced his support for same-sex marriage. He stated that civil rights should apply to everyone.

Foreign Policy

Iraq War: Nelson voted in 2002 to authorize military action in Iraq.
Iran: In 2017, he voted for a law that placed sanctions on Iran, along with Russia and North Korea.
Israel: Nelson supported Israel. He signed a letter urging President Obama to veto resolutions against Israel that he felt were one-sided. He also supported President Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital.
Venezuela: In 2017, Nelson called for stronger economic sanctions against Venezuela.
Cuba: He had concerns about certain parts of a spending bill related to Cuba in 2009. He wanted to ensure it didn't reverse the U.S. policy of isolating the communist-run island.
Syria Visit: In 2006, Nelson met with Syrian President Bashar Assad to try and improve U.S.-Syria relations. This was done to help stabilize Iraq.
Russia: After Russia destroyed a satellite in an anti-satellite test, Nelson said Russia's actions were "reckless and dangerous." He noted it threatened astronauts on the International Space Station and the Chinese space station.

Gun Control

Nelson supports new gun control laws. These include a ban on assault weapons and magazines that hold more than ten rounds. He also believes that people buying guns at gun shows should have background checks.

After the 2016 Orlando nightclub shooting, Nelson expressed sadness that bills to prevent suspected terrorists from buying guns had failed. He said, "the NRA won again." In 2017, after the Las Vegas shooting, Nelson sponsored a bill to ban bump stocks for assault weapons. He stated that automatic weapons are "not for hunting, they are for killing."

Student Loans

In 2017, Nelson introduced a bill to lower interest rates on student loans to 4 percent.

Environment

Nelson has worked to protect Florida's environment. In 2006, he co-sponsored a bill to ban oil drilling off Florida's Gulf Coast. He wanted this ban to continue. He also urged the Trump administration to keep the eastern Gulf of Mexico off-limits to oil and gas drilling. He argued that drilling there threatens Florida's tourism economy.

In 2011, Nelson helped create the RESTORE Act. This law directed money from BP fines to states affected by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. He also supported efforts to address algal blooms and hypoxia in water.

In 2015, Nelson tried to pass an amendment to prevent federal agencies from censoring official communications about climate change.

Hurricanes

After Hurricane Maria in 2017, Nelson and Senator Marco Rubio agreed that President Trump had been too slow to send military help to Puerto Rico. Nelson said the U.S. military is the most efficient organization for disaster relief.

Supreme Court

Nelson opposed the nomination of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court.

Security and Surveillance

In 2018, Nelson voted to continue a program that allows the National Security Agency to spy on internet and phone networks without warrants. He had previously called for a permanent extension of this law in 2015.

Personal Life

In 1972, Bill Nelson married Grace Cavert. They have two adult children, Charles William "Bill Jr." Nelson and Nan Ellen Nelson.

Images for kids

Nelson in 1972 as a Florida State Representative
Governor Jeb Bush and Nelson in 1999
Nelson's official Senate portrait (2000)
NASA photo (c. 1986)
Nelson with Vice President Joe Biden and Rep. Alcee Hastings in Miami-Dade County, Florida (2012)
Anti-war activists protest Democratic senators who supported Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen, December 2017
Nelson works with government storm trackers during a hurricane-hunter flight into the center of Hurricane Charley in August 2004
President Barack Obama and Nelson visit Kennedy Space Center in April 2010
Nelson looks on as President Donald Trump signs the NASA Transition Authorization Act of 2017
Nelson is sworn in as the 14th NASA administrator by Vice President Kamala Harris