Former U.S. Senator

Ben NelsonNo longer serving

Fact sheet
Official portrait of Ben Nelson
138 bills introduced

Across 6 Congresses, most in the 111th at 37. In the 112th, 27 — 8 fewer than the median senator, who filed 35. Of the 138, 1 became law. Volume is not influence: the great majority of bills, from every member, never get a vote.

Bills introduced, against the typical senator 107th to 112th

median for the chamber, that Congress

Cosponsored
897

Signed on to someone else's bill

Recorded votes
977

Roll calls tied to a bill, nominations aside

Their work

Drawn from the 138 bills this member introduced: the subjects the record assigns them, and the members who most often sign on.

Most frequent cosponsors

Times each has cosponsored a bill this member introduced.

Biography

A Senator from Nebraska. Born on May 17, 1941, in McCook, Red Willow County, Nebraska. Graduated University of Nebraska, Lincoln 1963, Masters 1965, J. D. 1970. Attorney and insurance executive. Director, Nebraska Department of Insurance 1975-1976. Governor of Nebraska 1991-1999. Elected to the United States Senate in 2000, and again in 2006, and served from January 3, 2001, to January 3, 2013. Was not a candidate for reelection to the Senate in 2012.

Votes

How this member answered on every recorded vote tied to a bill, newest first — including the procedural motions on it, such as cloture. Votes on nominations are not listed, because they are not attached to a bill.

Sponsored bills

Bills and resolutions this member introduced.

BillTitleStatusLatest action
S 3712Boys Town Centennial Commemorative Coin ActRead twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.Dec 28, 2012
S 3541A bill to amend section 520 of the Housing Act of 1949 to revise the census data and population requirements for areas to be considered as rural areas for purposes of such Act.Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.Sep 13, 2012
SRES 550A resolution designating September 13, 2012, as "National Celiac Disease Awareness Day".Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by UnanimouSep 11, 2012
SRES 548A resolution designating the week beginning September 9, 2012, as "National Direct Support Professionals Recognition Week".Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by UnanimouSep 11, 2012
S 3374A bill to amend the Public Rangelands Improvement Act of 1978 to establish criteria for the rate of fees charged for grazing private livestock on public rangelands.Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.Jul 11, 2012
S 2633A bill to extend and modify the temporary reduction of duty on Pinoxaden.Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.May 7, 2012
S 2632A bill to extend the temporary suspension of duty on Cloquintocet-mexyl.Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.May 7, 2012
S 2631A bill to extend and modify the temporary reduction of duty on azoxystrobin.Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.May 7, 2012

Cosponsored bills

Bills introduced by others that this member signed on to.

BillTitleStatusSigned on
SRES 624A resolution relative to the death of the Honorable Daniel Ken Inouye, Senator from the State of Hawaii.Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by UnanimouDec 18, 2012
SRES 621A resolution condemning the horrific attacks in Newtown, Connecticut, and expressing support and prayers for all those impacted by that tragedy.Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by UnanimouDec 17, 2012
SRES 612A resolution honoring the life and legacy of the Honorable Arlen Specter, distinguished former Senator for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by UnanimouDec 10, 2012
SRES 595A resolution expressing support for the goals of National Adoption Day and National Adoption Month by promoting national awareness of adoption and the children awaiting families, celebrating children and families involved in adoption, and encouraging the people of the United States to secure safety, permanency, and well-being for all children.Resolution agreed to in Senate without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (text: CRDec 5, 2012
SRES 607A resolution relative to the death of the Honorable George McGovern, former United States Senator and Congressman from the State of South Dakota.Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by UnanimouNov 30, 2012
SRES 604A resolution relative to the death of the Honorable Warren B. Rudman, former United States Senator for the State of New Hampshire.Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by UnanimouNov 29, 2012
SRES 588A resolution commending the 4 American public servants who died in Benghazi, Libya, United States Ambassador to Libya John Christopher Stevens, Sean Smith, Tyrone Woods, and Glen Doherty, for their tireless efforts on behalf of the American people, and condemning the violent attack on the United States consulate in Benghazi.Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by UnanimouSep 22, 2012
S 3560Recalcitrant Cancer Research Act of 2012Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.Sep 20, 2012

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Party, state and chamber are those of this member's most recent term. Bills and cosponsorships are held from the 107th Congress onwards and recorded votes from the 101st, so a member who served before those points will show fewer than they filed, or none. Committee seats are held for the current Congress only, which is why they are shown for sitting members and left out for everyone else rather than reported as zero. Vote counts cover roll calls tied to a bill; the chambers also vote on procedure and nominations, which are not listed here. Office, telephone and website are not shown for a member who has left, because the ones on file were theirs while serving. Records come from Congress.gov and the Biographical Directory of Congress.