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|name=Bill Nelson

|name=Bill Nelson

|image=Nelson.jpg

|image=Nelson.jpg

|party=[[Democrat]]

|party=[[Democratic]]

|spouse=Grace Cavert Nelson

|spouse=Grace Cavert Nelson

|religion=Episcopalian

|religion=[[Episcopalian]]

|offices=

|offices=

{{Officeholder/senator

{{Officeholder/senator

|state=Florida

|state=Florida

|terms=January 3, 2001 - Present

|terms=January 3, 2001 - present

|preceded=Connie Mack III

|preceded=Connie Mack III

|former=n

|former=n

|terms=January 3, 1983 – January 5th, 1991

|terms=January 3, 1983 – January 5th, 1991

|preceded=Daniel A. Mica

|preceded=Daniel A. Mica

|former=n

|former=y

|succeeded=Jim Bacchus

|succeeded=Jim Bacchus

}}

}}

|terms=January 3, 1979 – January 3, 1983

|terms=January 3, 1979 – January 3, 1983

|preceded=Louis Frey

|preceded=Louis Frey

|former=n

|former=y

|succeeded=Michael Bilirakis

|succeeded=Michael Bilirakis

}}

}}

}}

}}

'''Clarence William "Bill" Nelson''', born September 29, 1942 (age {{age|1942|9|29}}), is the senior [[United States]] [[Senator]] from [[Florida]], Nelson is a member of the [[Democratic Party]]. He is the the second sitting member of the [[United States Congress]] to fly in space when he flew aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia as a Payload Specialist during NASA mission STS-61-C (January 12–18, 1986).

'''Clarence William "Bill" Nelson''', born September 29, 1942 (age {{age|1942|9|29}}), is the senior [[United States]] [[Senator]] from [[Florida]], Nelson is a member of the [[Democratic Party]]. He is the the second sitting member of the [[United States Congress]] to fly in space when he flew aboard the space shuttle ''Columbia'' as a payload specialist during NASA mission STS-61-C (January 12–18, 1986).

==Education==

==Early Life and Education==

Nelson was born in [[Miami]] to Nannie Merle and C. W. Nelson. He attended the [[University of Florida]] for three years, where he was a member of Beta Theta Pi, and then transferred to [[Yale University]], where he received his Bachelor of Arts in 1965. He served in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1965 to 1971. During this time, Nelson studied at the [[University of Virginia]], where he received his law degree in 1968.

Nelson was born in [[Miami]] to Nannie Merle and C. W. Nelson. He attended the [[University of Florida]] for three years, where he was a member of Beta Theta Pi, and then transferred to [[Yale University]], where he received his Bachelor of Arts in 1965. Nelson studied at the [[University of Virginia]], where he received his law degree in 1968.

 

He served in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1965 to 1971.  

==Political career==

==Political career==

==Political views==  

==Political views==  

Bill Nelson is generally regarded as a moderate, and was among the few Democrats to vote in favor of CAFTA. He has also voted in favor of tighter bankruptcy restrictions and abolishing the estate tax. He also voted for the 2006 Military Commissions Act. However, he has voted against the [[Partial-birth abortion]] Ban Act and voted against a bill providing for criminal penalties for anyone harming an unborn child during the commission of a crime.  

Bill Nelson is generally regarded as a moderate, and was among the few Democrats to vote in favor of CAFTA. He has also voted in favor of tighter bankruptcy restrictions and abolishing the estate tax. He also voted for the 2006 Military Commissions Act. However, he has voted against the [[Partial-birth abortion]] Ban Act and voted against a bill providing for criminal penalties for anyone harming an unborn child during the commission of a crime.  

==External links==

==External links==

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nelson, Bill}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nelson, Bill}}

[[Category:United States Senators]]

[[Category:United States Senators]]

[[Category:110th United States Congress]]

[[Category:110th United States Congress]]

[[Category:111th United States Congress]]

[[Category:111th United States Congress]]