Bob Menendez : Net Worth, Family, Wife, Education, Children, Age, Biography and Political Career

Robert Menendez is an American lawyer and politician serving as the senior us Senator from New Jersey, a seat he has held since 2006. A member of the Democratic Party , he was first appointed to the U.S. Senate by Governor Jon Corzine, and chaired the us Senate Committee on Foreign Relations from 2013 to 2015, and again since 2021.

In 1974, at the age of 20, Menendez was elected to the Union City School Districts Board of Education. He received degrees from Saint Peters University and Rutgers school of law . In 1986, he was elected mayor of Union City. In 1988, while continuing to function mayor, he was elected to represent the states 33rd district within the General Assembly of latest Jersey and, within three years, moved to the New Jersey State Senate, upon winning the March 1991 special election for the 33rd Senate district. subsequent year, Menendez won a seat within the House of Representatives and represented New Jerseys 13th district for 6 two-year terms, from 1993 to 2006. In January 2006, he was appointed to fill the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Jon Corzine (who had been elected governor of latest Jersey), and was elected to a full six-year term in November; he was reelected in 2012 and 2018.

In 2015, Menendez was indicted on federal corruption charges, which were dropped in 2018. The us Senate committee on Ethics "severely admonished" him.

Robert Menendez was born on January 1, 1954, in ny City to Cuban immigrants who had left Cuba a couple of months earlier, in 1953. His father, Mario Menéndez, was a carpenter, and his mother, Evangelina, was a seamstress. The family subsequently moved to New Jersey, where he grew up in an apartment in Union City. He attended Union Hill highschool , where his speech teacher, Gail Harper, helped him develop as a orator . Menendez has said, "My mother and Miss Harper made me understand the facility of education, what it means to place a premium on learning and dealing hard." While at Union Hill, Menendez became the scholar body president. He went on to become the primary in his family to travel to school , attending Saint Peters College in Jersey City , where he became a member of the Lambda Theta Phi fraternity. He graduated with a B.A. in politics , and earned his Juris Doctor degree from Rutgers school of law in 1979 at the Newark campus. Menendez was admitted to the New Jersey Bar in 1980 and have become a lawyer privately practice.

In 2014, Menendez relocated from Union City to Paramus. In 2018, Menendez moved from Paramus to Harrison.

Bob Menendez Net Worth

Bob Menendez Net Worth is $ 1 Million in 2021.

Bob Menendez Family

Robert Menendez was born on January 1, 1954, in New York City to Cuban immigrants who had left Cuba a few months earlier, in 1953. His father, Mario Menéndez, was a carpenter, and his mother, Evangelina, was a seamstress.

In 1976, Menendez married Jane Jacobsen, a teacher for the Union City Board of Education and Union City Public Schools. They had two children: Alicia Menendez, a MSNBC television commentator/host and Robert. They divorced in 2005. In October 2019, Menendez got engaged to Nadine Arslanian, a businesswoman from Bergen County. They married in October 2020.

Bob Menendez Wife and Children

In 1976, Menendez married Jane Jacobsen, a teacher for the Union City Board of Education and Union City Public Schools. They had two children: Alicia Menendez, a MSNBC television commentator/host and Robert. They divorced in 2005. In October 2019, Menendez got engaged to Nadine Arslanian, a businesswoman from Bergen County. They married in October 2020.

Bob Menendez Career and Achievement

At the beginning of his career, Menendez was an aide to Union City Mayor William V. Musto. In 1974, he was elected to the Union City Board of Education, the youngest candidate to ever win election to the board. In 1982, he unsuccessfully challenged Musto for mayor. On May 13, 1986, he defeated Musto for mayor. Menendezs Alliance Civic Association ticket, including future mayor Bruce Walter, won 57% of the vote, beating the reform slate Transformation 86 and therefore the incumbent Union City Together ticket. Musto had been found guilty of corruption, and Menendez had testified against him, but Musto retained some popularity. The Together party, including his wife, Commissioner Rhyta Musto, represented the remnants of Mustos machine . Menendez served as mayor until 1992 and in November 1987 was elected to represent the states 33rd district generally Assembly. He continued to carry both offices until March 1991, when he moved from the Assembly to the New Jersey Senate upon winning the special election called following the death of Christopher Jackman.

U.S. House of Representatives (1993–2006)

Elections

In 1992, incumbent Democratic U.S. Congressman Frank Guarini, of latest Jerseys 14th district , retired after redistricting. The district had been renumbered because the 13th district, and reconfigured as a Latino-majority district. Menendez decided to run within the primary—the real contest during this heavily Democratic district—and defeated Robert Haney Jr., 68%–32%. He defeated New Jersey court Judge Fred J. Theemling Jr. within the election with 64% of the vote. then , he was reelected every two years with a minimum of 71% of the vote until he was appointed to the U.S. Senate in January 2006.

Tenure

Menendez, who is described as very on the brink of Republicans on policy, voted for the failed Kosovo Resolution, authorizing the utilization of military unit against Yugoslavia within the Kosovo War. He was an early advocate of preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear capabilities, sponsoring the Iran Nuclear Proliferation Prevention Act of 1998, which passed the House but did not pass the Senate.

Menendez voted for Authorization to be used of military unit Against Terrorists, authorizing the President to use military unit in Afghanistan in response to the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks. In 2002, Menendez voted against the Iraq Resolution to authorize the invasion of Iraq.

Menendez voted against the United Nations Reform Act of 2005, cutting U.S. funding to the U.N. by 50% over three years, and sponsored the Tsunami Orphans and Unaccompanied Children Act of 2005 to supply assistance to victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami.

Menendez voted for the PATRIOT Act in 2001, and in 2006 for its reauthorization.

In the 105th Congress, Menendez voted for the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, repealing provisions of the Glass-Steagall Act of 1933 that limited investment banks from acquiring insurance companies or other commercial banks, and voted for the Commodity Futures Modernization Act of 2000. After the 2001 Enron scandal, Menendez voted with 333 other House members for the Sarbanes–Oxley Act.

Although he had sometimes been portrayed because the party boss of Hudson County, he strongly dislikes this appellation, particularly because, consistent with an anonymous close source quoted within the December 11, 2005 Union City Reporter, "there is not any boss of Hudson County". consistent with a 2005 ny Times op-ed, "Since entering politics as a corruption-fighting mayor of Union City, N.J., Mr. Menendez has become a proponent of business as was common . He has long been an entrenched de facto leader of the Hudson County Democratic machine."

On August 27, 2006, two Republican state lawmakers filed an ethics complaint against Menendez, alleging he broke conflict-of-interest rules when he rented property bent a nonprofit agency that receives federal funds. Menendez helped the organization win designation as a Federally Qualified clinic in 1998. That designation allowed the agency to receive additional federal grants. Menendez allies noted that the organization in question, the North Hudson Community Action Corp., which provides social services and health care to the poor and was founded in 1960, had received federal funding for years before Menendez was in Congress, and receives its funding supported mathematical formulas. Menendez maintains that he rented the property out below market-value because "he was supportive of its work". the entire rent collected over nine years was over $300,000.

In September 2006, just a couple of weeks before the 2006 senate elections, the office of the US DA , Chris Christie, began investigating the rental affect NHCAC, subpoenaing records from them. Some Democrats criticized the investigation, particularly the timing of the investigation and news leaks, as politically motivated.

On August 18, 2015, Menendez announced his opposition to the nuclear affect Iran, saying, "President Obama continues to erroneously say that this agreement permanently stops Iran from having a nuclear bomb, Lets be clear: What the agreement does is to recommit Iran to not pursue a nuclear bomb, a promise they need already violated within the past."

U.S. Senate (2006–Present)

In January 2006, Governor Jon Corzine appointed Menendez to fill the remaining year in Corzines Senate term from which Corzine resigned upon being elected governor of latest Jersey the previous month. While several people had been mentioned, Menendez was the first favorite among pundits for Governor-elect Corzines choice. Corzines decision to appoint Menendez got the support of several Latino groups, including the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials. Menendez was the sixth Latino to serve within the us Senate.

Elections

1996

When incumbent U.S. Senator Bill Bradley decided to retire in August 1995, Menendez made known his intention to run within the 1996 election for the seat, but eventually dropped out of the race and endorsed Robert Torricelli, the Democrat representing New Jerseys 9th district . Similarly, in 1999, when the states other U.S. Senator, Frank Lautenberg, announced his planned retirement, Menendez again decided to not run, with the Democratic nomination for the 2000 race getting to Goldman Sachs CEO Jon Corzine, who won the overall election.

2006

In the midterm elections persisted November 7, near the top of his one-year appointment, Menendez ran to retain his Senate seat. He defeated Republican Thomas Kean Jr., incumbent minority whip within the New Jersey Senate and son of former state governor Thomas Kean, with 53% of the vote to Keans 45%.

Menendez was endorsed by several newspapers including The ny Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Star-Ledger, and therefore the Record.

2012

Menendez ran for reelection to a second term and defeated Republican Joe Kyrillos on November 6, with 58% of the vote to Kyrilloss 39%.

2018

Menendez ran for reelection to a 3rd term and defeated Republican Bob Hugin on November 6, with 54% of the vote to Hugins 42%.

Tenure

On Epiphany , 2021, Menendez was participating within the certification of the 2021 us body vote count when Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol. He was evacuated to an undisclosed location, with other senators, after rioters breached the Capitol. He called the attack "anarchy" and "a sad day for our democracy." After the Capitol was secure and Congress reconvened, Menendez certified the election. Menendez blamed Trump and Republicans who supported Trumps baseless claims of voter fraud for inciting the attack. He also involved an investigation into racism within the military.

Immigration

Menendez is an "aggressive advocate" of immigration reform, calling it the "civil rights offering of our time". He has introduced multiple pieces of legislation in attempts to overhaul what he calls our "failed immigration system." Menendez introduced the great Immigration Reform Act of 2011, but it died within the Senate Judiciary Committee. In 2009, he introduced the Orphans, Widows, and Widowers Protection Act, granting a pathway to citizenship for the undocumented widowers and orphans of deceased U.S. citizens.

Menendez may be a strong supporter of the DREAM Act, saying, "Children shouldnt be punished for the actions of their parents. These kids have grown up as Americans, worked hard in class and now they need to serve our country within the military or pursue a university education. this is often the sole home many of them have known and that they should be encouraged to pursue the American Dream ." He voted for the DREAM Act in 2007 and was a cosponsor along side 31 other senators within the Acts failed passage in 2010.

Menendez voted against denying status to illegal immigrants convicted of violence, crimes against children and crimes concerning the illegal purchase or sale of firearms, but voted to determine a six-month to 20-year ban for undocumented immigrants seeking citizenship who had been convicted for an equivalent crimes along side obstruction of justice, human trafficking and therefore the participation of criminal gang activity.

Menendez supported the great Immigration Reform Act of 2006 and Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007, voting for both bills. He voted against Senate Amendment 1151, declaring English the national language of the federal of the us . He voted to continue federal funding for declared "sanctuary cities."

He voted for the Secure Fence Act of 2006, building 700 miles (1,100 km) of physical barriers and expanding surveillance at the Mexico–U.S. border, and supported Senate Amendment 4775, which might have appropriated $1.8 billion for the development of 370 miles (600 km) of triple-layered fencing, and 461 miles (742 km) of auto barriers along parts of the Southwest.

On January 28, 2013, Menendez was a member of a bipartisan group of eight senators that announced principles for comprehensive immigration reform (CIR). In 2014 the National Council of los angeles Raza (Americas largest Latino advocacy organization) recognized Menendez for his add supporting immigration reform as a member of the "Gang of Eight."

Agriculture

In June 2019, Menendez and 18 other Democratic senators sent USDA military officer Phyllis K. Fong a letter requesting that she investigate USDA instances of retaliation and political decision-making and asserted that not conducting an investigation would mean these "actions might be perceived as a neighborhood of this administration’s broader pattern of not only discounting the worth of federal employees, but suppressing, undermining, discounting, and wholesale ignoring scientific data produced by their own qualified scientists."

Disaster Relief

In April 2018, Menendez was one among five Democratic senators to sign a letter to FEMA administrator Brock Long calling on FEMA to enter an agreement with the us Department of Housing and concrete Development that might "stand up the Disaster Housing Assistance Program and address the medium- and longer-term housing needs" of evacuees of Puerto Rico within the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. The senators asserted that "FEMAs refusal to use the tools at its disposal, including DHAP, to assist these survivors is puzzling – and profoundly troubling" which many hurricane survivors were vulnerable to being left homeless within the event that FEMA and HUD continued to not work together.

Environment

Menendez introduced legislation that would give incentives for the conversion of vehicles to run on natural gas; the bill did not make it out of committee in its first incarnation, and failed to receive 60 votes required to pass in 2012.

In February 2019, in response to reports of the EPA intending to decide against setting drinking water limits for perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) as part of an upcoming national strategy to manage the aforementioned class of chemicals, Menendez was one of 20 senators to sign a letter to Acting EPA Administrator Andrew R. Wheeler calling on the agency "to develop enforceable federal drinking water standards for PFOA and PFOS, as well as institute immediate actions to protect the public from contamination from additional per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)."

In June 2019, Menendez was one of 44 senators to introduce the International Climate Accountability Act, legislation that would prevent President Trump from using funds in an attempt to withdraw from the Paris Agreement and directing the Trump administration to instead develop a strategic plan for the United States that would allow it to meet its commitment under the Paris Agreement.

Education

Menendez sponsored the scholar Non-Discrimination Act, expanding Title IX of the Education Amendments Act to LGBT students, and therefore the Safe Schools Improvement Act of 2011, which might also amend the upper Education Act of 1965. He voted for the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act in 2009, saying, "When someone is harassed, assaulted or killed just because of the sort of person theyre , its a criminal offense against a whole community and our nations values." In 2012, Menendez received a 94% rating from the Human Rights Campaign.

During a news conference about the Teachers and First Responders Back to figure Act, Menendez claimed that New Jersey was facing a $10.5 billion shortfall in its 2012 fiscal budget that might cause cuts in state spending on education. Politifact rated this statement "false" because the 2012 budget was actually balanced and increased funding for education.

LGBT Policy

Menendez voted for the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) as a congressman in 1996; on December 18, 2011, he came call at support of, and co-sponsored, the Respect for Marriage Act, which might repeal DOMA. Menendez also voted for the U.S. militarys Dont ask, dont tell as a congressman, and co-sponsored the DADT repeal act in 2010.

In 1999, Menendez voted against a proposed amendment that might have banned adoption in Washington D.C. by same-sex couples and other persons not related by blood or marriage. The amendment failed with 213 votes in favor and 215 votes against.

Of gay rights, Menendez has said, "Two people that want to be committed to every other should be ready to enter into marriage, and that they should receive the advantages that be due that commitment."

Gun Policy

Menendez has an "F" rating from the National Rifle Association and an "F-" rating from the Gun Owners of America thanks to his support of gun law reform. Specifically, he supports universal background checks and a ban on assault weapons.

In January 2019, Menendez was one among 40 senators to introduce the Background Check Expansion Act, a bill that might require background checks for either the sale or transfer of all firearms including all unlicensed sellers. Exceptions to the bills background check requirement included transfers between members of enforcement, loaning firearms for either hunting or sporting events on a short lived basis, providing firearms as gifts to members of ones immediate family, firearms transferred as a part of an inheritance, or giving a firearm to a different person temporarily for immediate self-defense.

In June 2019, Menendez was one among four senators to cosponsor the assistance Empower Americans to reply (HEAR) Act, legislation that might ban suppressors being imported, sold, made, sent elsewhere or possessed and grant a silencer buyback program also as include certain exceptions for current and former enforcement personnel et al. . The bill was intended to reply to the Virginia Beach shooting, where the perpetrator used a .45-caliber handgun with multiple extended magazines and a suppressor.

Health Care

In December 2018, Menendez was one among 42 senators to sign a letter to Trump administration officials Alex Azar, Seema Verma, and Steve Mnuchin arguing that the administration was improperly using Section 1332 of the Affordable Care Act to authorize states to "increase health care costs for many consumers while weakening protections for people with pre-existing conditions." The senators requested the administration withdraw the policy and "re-engage with stakeholders, states, and Congress."

In January 2019, during the 2018–19 us federal shutdown, Menendez was one among 34 senators to sign a letter to Commissioner of Food and medicines Scott Gottlieb recognizing the efforts of the FDA to deal with the effect of the govt shutdown on the general public health and employees while remaining alarmed "that the continued shutdown will end in increasingly harmful effects on the agency’s employees and therefore the safety and security of the nation’s food and medical products."

Foreign Affairs

Menendez holds that the success of Americas policy is "inextricably linked to the health of her domestic democracy", stating within the Robert E Lees Birthday , 2021, confirmation hearings of Secretary-designate Antony Blinken that public servants and senators have a "duty to face up for democracy, for the constitution, and for the rule of law." He identified chief concerns as "rebuilding alliances, restoring American leadership in international institutions, and addressing complex global challenges like global climate change, migration, pandemics like COVID-19." He identifies the "core American values" as "democracy, human rights, and therefore the rule of law", upon which policy should be recentered.

In February 2006, Menendez cosponsored legislation with Senator Hillary Clinton to form it illegal for foreign governments to shop for U.S. port operations. The legislation was an immediate response to Dubai Ports Worlds efforts to get Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O) of the uk , which operates six major U.S. ports. Menendez said, "Our ports are the front lines of the war on terrorism. theyre both vulnerable targets for attack and venues for smuggling and human trafficking. We wouldnt turn the patrol or the Bureau of Customs over to a far off government, and that we cant afford to show our ports over to at least one either."

On April 25, 2008, a former undercover G-man revealed within the book Ruse: Undercover with FBI Counterintelligence that Cuban diplomats approached freelance blogger and journalist Robert Eringer to research Menendez. it had been suggested that the Cuban government decided to get derogatory information about him and Representatives Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Lincoln Díaz-Balart due to their anti-Castro lobbying efforts.

In October 2009, Menendez sent a strongly worded letter of protest to Cyprus President Dimitris Christofias, castigating him for his praise of Cubas totalitarian system. Christofias, the leader of AKEL, Cypruss Communist Party , from 1988 to 2009 and president from 2008 to 2013, had paid a state visit to Cuba in September 2009 for the opening of Cypruss new embassy and, in his speech, made variety of anti-American embargo references, and spoke of the "common struggle of Cyprus and Cuba". In his letter to Christofias, Menendez wrote, "you cannot claim human rights violations by Turkey in your country then ignore such violations in Cuba. Second, you cant involve property rights for Greek Cypriots then deny them on Cuba. Finally, you cant disagree with the militarization of northern Cyprus then ignore the state security apparatus that oppresses the Cuban people."

In December 2010, Menendez voted for the ratification of latest Start, a nuclear arms reduction treaty between the U.S. and therefore the Russia obliging both countries to possess no quite 1,550 strategic warheads or 700 launchers deployed during subsequent seven years along side providing a continuation of on-site inspections that halted when START I expired the previous year. it had been the primary arms treaty with Russia in eight years.

In March 2017, Menendez co-sponsored the Israel Anti-Boycott Act (S.270), which made it a federal crime, punishable by a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment, for Americans to encourage or participate in boycotts against Israel and Israeli settlements within the occupied Palestinian territories if protesting actions by the Israeli government.

In 2018, Menendez urged vice chairman Mike Pence to enter talks with Ecuador about withdrawing its asylum for Julian Assange. His letter, signed by nine other senators, alleged that it had been Assanges goal to "undermine democratic processes globally". In March 2018, Menendez voted against Bernie Sanderss and Chris Murphys resolution that might end U.S. support for the Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen. But Menendez criticized Saudi Arabias war in Yemen, saying, "The Saudi Coalition bears significant responsibility for the magnitude of human suffering and scale of destruction in Yemen. Seventy-five percent of the population is in need of humanitarian assistance and quite 8 million are on the brink of famine." Noting concerns with the language after voting for Bob Corkers resolution naming the Saudi prince "responsible" for the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, he said, "regardless of all of my other concerns about language is that the central essence of what the chairman goes to try to to . i feel its incredibly important for the Senate to talk thereon issue and hopefully speak with one voice."

Menendez condemned the genocide of the Rohingya Muslim minority in Myanmar and involved a stronger response to the crisis.

Menendez raised the difficulty of Xinjiang reeducation camps and called China’s treatment of Uyghur Muslim minority "beyond abhorrent", adding, "The President must have a transparent and consistent approach to China, and not turn a blind eye as 1,000,000 Muslims are unjustly imprisoned and made into labor camps by an autocratic regime."

In January 2019, Menendez opposed Trumps planned withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria and Afghanistan as a threat to U.S. national security.

In April 2019, Menendez was one among 34 senators to sign a letter to Trump encouraging him "to hear members of your own Administration and reverse a choice which will damage our national security and aggravate conditions inside Central America", asserting that Trump had "consistently expressed a flawed understanding of U.S. foreign assistance" since becoming president which he was "personally undermining efforts to market U.S. national security and economic prosperity" by preventing the utilization of financial year 2018 national security funding. The senators argued that foreign assistance to Central American countries created less migration to the U.S. by helping to enhance conditions in those countries.

In June 2019, Menendez involved the immediate release of Ukrainian journalist Stanislav Aseyev, who was being held in custody by militants from the so-called Donetsk Peoples Republic.

In October 2019, Menendez stated his opposition to the Turkish invasion of the Kurdish areas in Syria.

Menendez involved the Trump administration to right away suspend U.S. military aid to Azerbaijan, sent through Pentagon’s "building partner assistance program." consistent with critics, the help might be utilized in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia. In September 2020, Menendez tweeted: "I strongly condemn Azerbaijan’s attack on Nagorno Karabakh, yet one more act of aggression supported by Turkey." He co-signed a letter stating: "We are very critical of U.S. security assistance to Azerbaijan given the country’s human rights record and aggression within the region. Earlier this year, at Senator Menendez’s request, the govt Accountability Office agreed to conduct a review of security assistance to the country to make sure that it aligns with U.S. interests; this violence indicates that it doesnt."

Senate Foreign Relations Committee

Menendez became chair of the Foreign Relations Committee after John Kerrys confirmation as Secretary of State in January 2013. His "Syria force resolution" was praised by President Obama et al. . Menendez has supported taking a "hard line" on Iran.

Foreign Affairs Legislation Sponsored

Organization of yank States Revitalization and Reform Act of 2013 (S. 793; 113th Congress) – Menendez introduced this bill on April 24, 2013. The bill would require the Secretary of State to develop a multiyear strategy to bolster the Organization of yank States (OAS) and improve the OASs processes for managing its budget and personnel. The act would require the Secretary to supply quarterly briefings to Congress on the progress of implementing that strategy.

Support for United States-Republic of Korea Civil Nuclear Cooperation Act – Menendez introduced this bill, which might authorize the President to increase the term of the "Agreement for Cooperation between the govt of the us of America and therefore the Government of the Republic of Korea Concerning Civil Uses of Atomic Energy" to a date no later than Saint Joseph , 2016. The bill passed the Senate on January 27, 2014, and therefore the House on January 28, 2014.

Ukraine Freedom Support Act of 2014 was introduced to the 113th Congress on September 16, 2014 to deal with pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine. President Obama signed the bill into law on December 18, 2014.

Awards and Honors

West ny, New Jersey, which borders Menendezs childhood hometown of Union City to the north, renamed Public School No. 3 in his honor; its now referred to as Robert Menendez grade school. The renaming ceremony was persisted December 4, 2013.