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About Bob
- Start
- 1972
- 1974
- 1976
- 1979
- 1986
- 1992
- 2006
- 2013
- 2013
- 2014
- 2014
- 2016
- 2017
- 2017
- 2018
![First slide](/congress115th/20181221215539im_/https://www.menendez.senate.gov/imo/media/image/capitolslide.jpg)
Bob Menendez
Interactive Timeline
![Second slide](/congress115th/20181221215539im_/https://www.menendez.senate.gov/imo/media/image/hs.jpg)
1972
Bob graduates from Union Hill High School in Union City, New Jersey and credits his teacher Gail Harper for instilling in him the confidence to overcome his fear of public speaking.
![Second slide](/congress115th/20181221215539im_/https://www.menendez.senate.gov/imo/media/image/article.jpg)
1974
Bob makes his first foray into politics at age 19 fighting to level the playing field for students. He wins a seat on the Union City Board of Education.
![Second slide](/congress115th/20181221215539im_/https://www.menendez.senate.gov/imo/media/image/stpeters.jpg)
1976
The first in his family to go to college, Bob graduates from St. Peters University in New Jersey.
![Second slide](/congress115th/20181221215539im_/https://www.menendez.senate.gov/imo/media/image/rutgers.jpg)
1979
Bob graduates from Rutgers School of Law. His son, Robert Jr., graduates from the same law school 32 years later.
![Second slide](/congress115th/20181221215539im_/https://www.menendez.senate.gov/imo/media/image/Mayor%201986%20Temp.jpg)
1986
Bob gets elected Mayor of Union City, New Jersey after taking on his powerful hometown mayor and a corrupt political establishment.
![Second slide](/congress115th/20181221215539im_/https://www.menendez.senate.gov/imo/media/image/house.jpg)
1992
Bob gets elected to the U.S. House of Representatives by the 13th district in New Jersey, where he serves for 13 years and becomes a powerful voice on issues such as immigration, national security and representing the interests of working families.
![Second slide](/congress115th/20181221215539im_/https://www.menendez.senate.gov/imo/media/image/campaign.jpg)
2006
After New Jersey’s governor appointed him to the U.S. Senate for over nine months, the people of New Jersey elect Bob to represent them full-time in the Senate.
![Second slide](/congress115th/20181221215539im_/https://www.menendez.senate.gov/imo/media/image/Immigration-Reform-Speech.jpg)
2013
Bob passes Immigration Reform legislation through the Senate to protect hard-working immigrants from deportation & provide an earned path to citizenship. When House Republicans refuse to pass it, Bob convinces President Obama to expand DACA & create the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) program.
![Second slide](/congress115th/20181221215539im_/https://www.menendez.senate.gov/imo/media/image/Sandy-Taskforce-Hearing.jpg)
2013
After forcing FEMA to reopen Superstorm Sandy claim reviews, Bob spearheads legislation to reform flood insurance policy, protect New Jerseyans from premium hikes, and refund homeowners who overpaid. The legislation wins bipartisan support, and is signed by President Obama.
![Second slide](/congress115th/20181221215539im_/https://www.menendez.senate.gov/imo/media/image/Negotiation-across-the-table.jpg)
2014
Russia invades Ukraine in July. In response, Bob authors new sanctions punishing Russia, and Bob is personally sanctioned by Vladimir Putin for his leadership in holding Russia accountable.
![Second slide](/congress115th/20181221215539im_/https://www.menendez.senate.gov/imo/media/image/Austism-Speech-centered-puzzles.jpg)
2014
Bob authors the Autism CARES Act which reforms federal autism research programs, ensures they continue for 5 years, and creates new support systems for young adults transitioning out of school-based aid.
![Second slide](/congress115th/20181221215539im_/https://www.menendez.senate.gov/imo/media/image/Protect-our-coast-landscape.jpg)
2016
Bob works to convince the Obama Administration to permanently ban drilling in large swaths of the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of New Jersey. While the Trump Administration has tried to undo this progress, Bob has held a coalition of bipartisan lawmakers and Governors together in stiff opposition to protect New Jersey’s coastline.
![Second slide](/congress115th/20181221215539im_/https://www.menendez.senate.gov/imo/media/image/Healthcare-rally-RM-podium-signs.jpg)
2017
Despite numerous attempts to take health care away from 130 million Americans and end Medicaid as we know it, Bob helps stop Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans’ disastrous health care repeal plan from becoming law.
![Second slide](/congress115th/20181221215539im_/https://www.menendez.senate.gov/imo/media/image/puerto-Rico-flyover-website1.jpg)
2017
After Hurricane Maria hits Puerto Rico, Bob visits the island to get a first-hand assessment of the damage and returns to Congress fiercely advocating for increased aid after the Trump Administration botches their response to the tragedy.
![Second slide](/congress115th/20181221215539im_/https://www.menendez.senate.gov/imo/media/image/SFRC-hands-up.jpg)
2018
Standing up for his constituents, Bob fights back against the Trump Administration’s budget cuts. He works to keep funding for NJ transportation projects, community development funds and health research.