Bill Nelson

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Bill Nelson

United States senator

Also known as: Clarence William Nelson

Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Jan 7, 2025 • Article History

Quick Facts

In full:: Clarence William Nelson

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

Title / Office:: United States Senate (2001-2019), United States; House of Representatives (1979-1991), United States

Political Affiliation:: Democratic Party

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NASA proposes cheaper, quicker way to get Mars rocks and soil to Earth • Jan. 7, 2025, 3:18 PM ET (AP)

Bill Nelson (born September 29, 1942, Miami, Florida, U.S.) is an American Democratic politician who represented Florida in the U.S. Senate from 2001 to 2019. He had previously served in the U.S. House of Representatives (1979–91). Nelson was the second sitting member of Congress to travel into space (1986). In 2021 he became the administrator of NASA. Nelson earned a B.A. in political science from Yale University in 1965 and received a doctorate of law (J.D.) from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1968. He was admitted to the Florida bar the same year. He served in the ...(100 of 502 words)

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