SEN. ROBERT MENENDEZ BIO
PROVIDED BY THE MENENDEZ CAMPAIGN

At an early age, Senator Bob Menendez learned the importance of standing up for what's right. No matter how powerful the opposition.

Bob grew up the son of immigrants in a tenement building in Union City, New Jersey. He first entered public service as a 19-year old college student — when he launched a successful petition drive to reform his local school board. That same commitment led Bob to stand up to his hometown's powerful mayor when he saw him abusing the office for personal gain.

Bob stood up to the corrupt political establishment and led a coalition of reformers who cleaned up the city. He took on the mayor and testified against him in court, resulting to a conviction. Bob Menendez has never been afraid to stand up for what's right, no matter how powerful the opposition.

Bob Menendez was elected Mayor of his hometown, and then went on to serve as a state legislator. Since 1992, Bob has been fighting for New Jersey families in Washington, where he rose to become the third-highest ranking Democrat in the House of Representatives before taking office in the Senate in January 2006.

Today, in the U.S. Senate, Bob Menendez stands up for New Jersey and stands up to President Bush and his Republican Congress. Bob is one of the strongest, most effective Senators in the Democratic minority.

Senator Menendez has fought to make health care more affordable for New Jersey's families. He restored $130 million to New Jersey for seniors' prescription drug coverage, and he's taken on Bush cuts in Medicare, Medicaid. Bob forced President Bush to release $150 million for critical transportation projects on Jersey's highways. Senator Menendez also restored crucial funding to Amtrak that Bush's Congress cut.

Bob believes polluters should be held accountable for the damage they cause, and has consistently fought to reinstate the polluter-pays principle behind the federal Superfund laws. He's also taken on Big Oil, by calling for a federal gas tax holiday at the pump, as well as a long-term plan for American energy independence. Bob is proud to have earned perfect scores from the Sierra Club and League of Conservation voters.

Senator Menendez also wants to improve schools so they prepare our children for a successful future. And, as the first in his family to attend college and law school, Bob continues the fight to make college more accessible for the next generation of leaders.

Bob believes we should honor our parents by making sure they can retire with dignity. He introduced legislation to make it easier for families to care for their aging loved ones. And Bob Menendez led the fight to stop the Republican plan to privatize Social Security.

After September 11th, Bob earned national recognition for his leadership in reforming the nation's intelligence and public health systems, as well as for fighting to establish an independent commission to investigate the terrorist attacks. Today, he is working to improve the security of our bus, rail and public transit systems. And, in the Senate, Bob has already secured $1 billion in Port Security and served as a leading voice helping to stop President Bush's tone-deaf Dubai port deal.

Now, more than ever, New Jersey — and the nation — needs someone who can stand up, take on, and beat back President Bush and the Republican Congress in Washington.

Bob Menendez has taken on tough fights all his life. He has proven that he will stand up for us. No matter what.